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it's free! 

God Rest 

Ye Merry, Leung 

Chun-ying 

hk-magazine.com 

/hktablet 

HK 

MAGAZINE NO.1073 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 www.hk-magazine.com 

Hong Kong Christmas Carols 

Songs to salve your seasonal woes

PAGE 3 

18 

COVER STORY 

Christmas carols to inform and entertain 

Conspiracy 

Corner 

It’s time once again for our ever-popular 

Conspiracy Corner, in which we reveal truths 

that the lamestream media wouldn’t dare impart. 

It ends on Lung Wo Road. 

But where did it start It started where all 

things start: Sierra Leone. Ebola. It’s ravaging Africa 

and has spread to Texas in America. What state does 

Texas almost touch That’s right. Missouri. What’s 

in Missouri 

Ferguson. Little known fact: a small city outside 

of Ferguson is known for its main product: pepper 

spray. Yes, you’re getting it. The exact same pepper 

spray supplied to the Hong Kong Police. Laced with 

ebola, perhaps 

What else do you use pepper for That’s right, 

kiddies… food. 

And who is eschewing food Joshua Wong has 

started his hunger strike in order to regain the 

spotlight—at the same time that the third installment 

of the “Hunger Games” movies hits theaters. The 

parallels are plain to all but the most blind of souls. 

Sent to battle in a televised area as the populace 

looks on, divided Clearly, the movies have been 

constructed to back up Wong and Scholarism. 

Think about it. The movie is called 

“Mockingjay”—or, “Mocking J.” Which J has more 

to profit from this entire affair than pro-democracy 

media tycoon Jimmy Lai 

Who’s in charge 

Publisher and General Manager Greg Crandall 

Editor-in-Chief Zach Hines 

Managing Editor Sarah Fung 

Editor Adam White 

Features Editor Kate Springer 

Senior Associate Editor Adele Wong 

Online & Social Media Manager Katie Kenny 

Staff Writers Andrea Lo, Evelyn Lok, 

Charlotte Mulliner 

Reporter Yannie Chan 

Web Developer Timothy Cheng 

Production Manager Blackie Hui 

Art Director Pierre Pang 

Senior Graphic Designer Mike Hung 

Graphic Designers Elaine Tang, Iris Mak, 

Ryan Chan, Siu-Fa Wong, Tammy Tan 

Production Supervisor Kelly Cheung 

Where to find us! 

HK Magazine Media Ltd. 

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233 Hollywood Road, Hong Kong 

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E-mail: hk@hkmagmedia.com 

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member of: 

contests, updates, stories 

You may also have noticed that the weather 

has turned colder, seemingly overnight. Where does 

this newfound breeze hail from The north, of course. 

What else is in the north Cadres. You want examples 

of foreign influence Look to the weather, friend. The 

answer is blowing in the wind. 

As usual, the Hong Kong Observatory’s 

forecasts are all over the place. Similarly misplaced 

forecasts are the purview of Financial Secretary 

John Tsang, who makes an art of predicting the 

exact opposite of what will happen to Hong Kong. His 

recent warning that Occupy Hong Kong will stunt the 

city’s growth, all while retail sales rose 4.8 percent 

in September and tourism increased 12.6 percent in 

October, leaves only one possibility: He is an idiot. 

Now put it all together: A “hungry” Joshua 

Wong, Philip Seymour Hoffman (RIP), cold 

weather RIGHT NOW of all times, John 

Tsang is an idiot, and there’s a new, hostile 

administration in Taiwan. 

Foreign forces, folks. It couldn’t be 

anything else. 

facebook.com/hkmagazine 

Finance Manager Karen Tsang 

Assistant Finance Manager Penny Cheng 

Senior Accountant Alex Fung 

Internal Compliance Officer Lucy Wong 

Accountant Winson Yip 

Assistant Accountant Coa Wong, Edwin Lee 

Administrator Roy Lam 

I.T. Manager Derek Wong 

Messenger Li Sau-king 

Use your iPad's QR scanner app 

to download our tablet version, 

with all the photos, trailers and 

extras you just can't get in print! 

latest news and trends 

@hk_magazine 

28 

travel 

Eat your way through 

Melbourne (leave 

room for coffee) 

36 

dish 

Talking turkey 

for Christmas 

62 

first person 

Mighty pianist 

Yundi Li 

24 

december 

The top 10 things to 

do in month No. 12 

33 

shopping 

X’mas gifts for under 

$500: because even 

love has a budget 

48 

film 

“The Theory of 

Everything” doesn’t 

quite cover it all 

HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 5

mailbag 

Mr. Know-It-All’s Guide to Life 

Dear Mr. Know-It-All, 

Christmas is coming up! Aside from all the presents and the mall 

decorations, is there anything more to Christianity in Hong Kong 

– Christian Soldier 

There are 854,000 Catholics and Protestants of the Communist Party, and you begin 

in Hong Kong, about 12 percent of the 

to understand why the CCP gets antsy 

population. What’s interesting is the role around religion, and why there’s a sense 

that this percentage has played in Hong that religious freedoms must be protected 

Kong, particularly in the fight against Beijing. as much as personal ones. 

Given the Catholic Church’s reputation as 

How did it all get started The history of 

a hide-bound organism resistant to change, Christianity in Hong Kong is, as you’d expect, 

it’s surprising that Christianity has had such largely the work of the British. In China, 

a prominent voice in our city’s opposition. it’s a different, more interesting story. 

Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun has 

The arrival of Christianity in China 

long been an outspoken supporter of 

comes almost entirely down to one man: 

human rights and political freedom, using Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci. In 1583 

his considerable platform to act as a 

Ricci traveled from Macau to the city of 

notable pro-democratic voice. Pro-dem Zhaoqing, in northern Guangzhou. There, 

grandees Anson Chan and Martin Lee are Ricci studied Chinese language, literature 

both Catholic, as is Next Media’s Jimmy and culture, and spread the word of God. 

Lai. (Although so is ex-CE Donald Tsang: In 1601 he became the first westerner to 

and then there’s the ultra-conservative be invited into the Forbidden City, thanks to 

Society for Truth and Light, which decries his fame as a man of science. Ricci used his 

masturbation, cursing and homosexuality.) position to preach to the literati of Beijing. 

Occupy Central founder Benny Tai is a Seeing a common thread in Confucianism 

committed Christian, and OC co-founder and Christianity, he strove to present the 

Reverend Chu Yiu-ming, of the Chai Wan latter as the culmination of the ideas of 

Baptist Church, made his bones by helping the former. 

student leaders to flee China after the 

But there’s one other synthesis of east 

1989 Tiananmen Square massacre. Student and west for which this displaced Catholic 

leader Joshua Wong is an evangelical 

should be known. In 1602, at the behest 

Christian who credits his faith as one of of the Wanli Emperor, Ricci combined his 

his prime motivations. 

knowledge of the lands of Europe and 

Why is there this level of Christian America with his hosts’ knowledge of Asia, 

involvement in the suffrage debate It 

to create the Chinese-language “Map of 

comes down to two things, of course: first, the Ten Thousand Countries of the World.” 

the idea that human rights are largely in It was one of the great collaborations of 

line with the Christian ethos. Second, that history: a map that drew on the combined 

Beijing is largely hostile to western religion, expertise and art of east and west, and 

despite the growing number of Christians turned them into a far greater whole. It was 

within China: One study estimates 100 one of the earliest acts of globalization, 

million Christians in the motherland. 

a statement that humanity was vaster than 

Compare that to the 86.7 million members empires. Not a bad legacy for a Jesuit priest. 

Our tablet app: Out Now! 

“ Is HK Magazine this out of sync 

with its readership” 

Umbrella Angst 

In our “Welcome to Umbrella Land” feature 

[Nov 21, issue 1071], we explored the creative 

corners of the protest zone, including the Lennon 

Wall and the urban farm in the middle of the city. 

Here’s what our Facebook fans had to say. 

Okay, maybe the Lennon thing is cool, but 

everything else is just trash. Trash that needs 

to be cleaned up so the majority of us can get 

back to our regular lives. Is HK Magazine this out 

of sync with its readership You guys do know 

the majority of HK is fed up with this and would 

rather see these kids and so called art gone from 

their lives But then again you guys are probably 

a bunch of expats with no real roots to this place. 

This is beautiful! 

Tiger Thai 

Very inspiring! 

Alison Farr 

Performance Review 

Our Facebook fans had mixed feelings 

about Adam White’s film review of “John Wick” 

[Nov 14, issue 1070]. 

Adam White writes the best movie reviews ever. 

Caroline F. Ward 

Do you know 

what I know 

Your Carols for the Winter Months: 

Mr. Know-It-All answers your questions and quells your urban concerns. 

Send queries, troubles or problems to mrkia@hkmagmedia.com. 

#PrivateEyeHK 

Jason Wong 

Please, just pack up and leave. I for one am tired 

of seeing kids occupying public area. What they 

are asking is unrealistic and they are causing 

financial damage for many residents. 

Ken Iwaki 

This is hands down one of the worst movies 

of the year. Who actually writes these reviews 

Oh, it’s the same person who brought to us 

the oh-so-witty “HK tour with CY Leung” and 

the masterpiece “How to be a HK hipster”. 

Grow up. 

Shani Co-n 

Write in and Win! 

Got something to say Write us! Our letter of 

the week will receive a $500 voucher to spend at 

Seasalt, valid for dinner Monday through Friday. 

23 Mosque St., Mid-Levels, 2790-7211, 

www.seasalt.com.hk. Follow Seasalt 

on FB: tiny.cc/hk-seasalt. 

The Boy in the Bubble 

Photo by Adam White 

6 HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014

Sponsored Feature

THE WEEK 

SAT 

SUN 

THU 

Friday 12/5 

K In Da Club 

Brand new LKF nightclub Illusion—which 

boasts the only karaoke facilities in the hood— 

is joining forces with Universal Music for the 

EDM “Bass You Can Feel” Experience, 

which promises to be a night full of new 

releases. There’s an open bar for the first hour, 

so get there early. 

6:30pm. 2/F, Cosmo Building, 8-11 Lan 

Kwai Fong, Central, 2526-9996. Free. 

Saturday 12/6 

Marketing Department 

Shopping in Sham Shui Po just got even better. 

Following the success of previous events, the 

Tai Nan Street Free Market returns. This 

street market will be home to tons of stalls 

offering arts and crafts, leather goods, vintage 

knick-knacks, henna and more. 

11am-6pm. Tai Nan St., Sham Shui Po. 

Sunday 12/7 

Tree-Huggers, Unite 

You don’t have to spend every weekend 

drinking—try doing something that’s actually 

good for you. Sai Kung Sessions, featuring 

pros in wellness and nutrition, take place at the 

Sai Kung Sunday Market this month. There’s a 

yoga demo and a talk on making eco-friendly 

choices during the holiday season. 

2pm. Hong Kong Academy, 33 Wai Man 

Rd., Sai Kung. Free; see tiny.cc/hk-session. 

Monday 12/8 

Fayrest of Them All 

Get into the holiday spirit with carol concert 

The Fayre of St. John’s, then head to the 

after-party at Mott 32. Your money goes to 

local charity Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre. 

7-8:30pm. St. John’s Cathedral, 4-8 Garden 

Rd., Central. Minimum donation $2,500; 

email maggies@quintessentially.com. 

Tuesday 12/9 

Fresh Flicks 

The Fresh Wave International Short Film 

Festival screens local and overseas indie 

hits alike. Today, catch “Paris On the Water,” 

the story of an aging Israeli starlet who 

must come to terms with her fading 

glamor and deteriorating health. Merry 

Christmas, everyone! 

Dec 5-19. See Film, p.52. 

Wednesday 12/10 

Chocolate Party 

Christmas is almost here, but obviously 

you were too disorganized to prepare for it. 

Go out and buy a half-priced advent 

calendar, then eat it all in one sitting. 

Alone, in your bedroom. 

Thursday 12/11 

Perfect Matcha 

Finnish design brand Marimekko has teamed 

up with Log-On Cafe for some Scandinavianstyle 

afternoon tea sets ($78-129). Nibble on 

smoked salmon canapés, crème brûlée, fresh 

fruit tarts and other light bites. Green tea fans, 

get excited: there’s a “matcha fantasy” cake 

on the menu. 

Through Dec 14, 2pm. Log-On Cafe, 

Shop 260-261, 2/F, Phase 1, Cityplaza, 

18 Tai Koo Shing Rd., Tai Koo, 2736-3866. 

Log on to 

Marimekko’s tea spread 

Coming Up 

Porsche it Real Good 

Always wanted to ride in a Porsche 

Uber has teamed up with the luxury 

car brand and there’ll be half a dozen 

Porsches available for 30-minute trips next 

weekend. The ride will set you back $200, 

and all proceeds will go to Operation 

Santa Claus, a joint charity initiative 

organized by the SCMP and RTHK. 

Supercars for good Count us in. 

Dec 12, 3pm–Dec 14, 4pm. $200. 


NEWS 

Edited 

by Yannie Chan 

yannie.chan@hkmagmedia.com 

Twitter: @yanniecsy 

Last Week In Reality 

Sat 22 

Big Blast A gas explosion, heard and felt by neighbors more than 500 meters away, kills one man 

and seriously injures six fire officers in a Shek Kip Mei public housing estate. The explosion takes 

place just as firemen enter an apartment with a suspected gas leak. The 56-year-old man living in 

the flat is found dead, wrapped in eight layers of clothing and three pairs of trousers. The police 

suspect that the man had turned on the gas to commit suicide. One fireman remains in critical 

condition, and the other five are stable. 

Sun 23 

Public Punishment A dozen sales associates from electronics store Broadway are 

seen standing in a line in Mong Kok. One of the associates tells a passerby that they 

have been made to stand there for 10 minutes because they failed to meet their 

monthly sales quotas. A forum post titled “The Misery of Being a Broadway Sales 

Associate” goes viral. A spokesperson clarifies that the store manager was merely 

“encouraging and guiding” his staff. 

Mon 24 

Train Surfer A Light Rail train is leaving Tuen 

Mun Station when a young man jumps on and 

clings to the back of the train. A Tuen Mun 

District Councillor says this has happened 

before, with daredevils climbing onto moving 

trains for the thrill of it. He urges young 

people to be safe. 

Tue 25 

Pro-dem Gangster Apple Daily boss and outspoken Occupy supporter Jimmy Lai 

Chee-ying is accused of colluding with triad forces, as he was seen chatting with 

alleged gang leader “Knife Scar Kong” 

at the occupation in Admiralty. Lai tells 

Apple Daily that the two had only met in 

Admiralty and that he is open to talking 

to anyone who supports the same cause. 

Occupiers recognize “Knife Scar Kong” as 

a hardcore Occupier, saying he was there 

when rounds of tear gas were fired. An 

artist has painted a portrait of Kong, which 

has become a new attraction at Occupy. 

Wed 26 

Acid Criticism A 46-year-old man becomes so upset with the quality of food and service at a San 

Po Kong branch of Café de Coral that he splashes acid around the premises, injuring eight people. 

The man is a regular customer, but he had been protesting recently because “the food tastes 

worse than shit.” The attack was the man’s revenge for suffering a stomach ache after his meal the 

day before. Residents say the food has been consistent and the staff is friendly. 

Thur 27 

Fri 28 

Doggone It An 18-year-old woman is 

Defriended During a visit to the home of his 

walking her 3-month-old French bulldog best friend of 10 years, a 22-year-old man 

in Tuen Mun when three men snatch steals the spare key, and then makes five 

the dog and escape in a private vehicle. separate trips to the house to steal from him. 

The police suspect her ex-boyfriend, Each time he calls his friend and asks about 

who gifted her the dog. CY Leung’s 

his day to ascertain his whereabouts before 

daughter Leung Chai-yan owns a French committing the crime. The friend’s father 

bulldog named Speedy, and she says on finally realizes they are missing gold jewelry 

Facebook, “I will skin these guys alive. worth $22,000. Some of it is discovered in 

Do anything to my Speedy and oh myyyy the thief’s home: he owes more than $100,000 

will u regret.” 

in gambling debts. 

Illustrations: Ryan Chan 

Talking Points 

We read the news, so you don’t have to. 

Clockenflap Protests 

Hong Kong indie band My Little Airport spoke out against CY Leung during music festival 

Clockenflap. The band members modified the lyrics of their song “Please Don’t Sell Flags in 

Sham Shui Po” to end with the repeated phrase “CY Leung, Fuck You!” The audience sang 

along enthusiastically. Others showed support by opening yellow umbrellas during various 

performances, including those of Taiwanese band Chthonic, Taiwanese singer-songwriter Deserts 

Xuan and British rock band Travis, during the song “Why Does it Always Rain on Me” 

Our take: Woo! Clockenprotest! 

CityU Students Quit Student Association Race 

Over Alleged Beijing Infiltration 

A group of City University students running for the Student Union has quit the race after revealing 

that they had been approached by pro-Beijing forces. Former candidate Timson Kwok claims 

to have been approached by pro-Beijing group Y. Elites Association Limited, who requested that 

he collaborate with them once he was elected to the Federation of Students. He claims 

they hinted that there would be financial incentives for cooperating. Uncertain whether other 

members of the proposed cabinet had accepted the deal, the whole team has withdrawn 

from the race. Another candidate, Wong Wai-kin, says he has received menacing calls after 

publicly supporting the Umbrella Movement. The Federation of Students consists of elected 

members of each university’s student unions. The current cabinet, including protest leaders 

Alex Chow and Lester Shum, will finish their term in March. 

Our take: What is this Game of Thrones: Student Union edition 

CY Leung urges people to shop in Mong Kok 

While the police worked to clear the Mong Kok streets of the Occupy encampment last week, 

CY Leung called upon Hongkongers to go shop and support businesses in the area. 

It produced the opposite effect, with hundreds “following” CY’s pleas by organizing late-night 

“shopping groups” in Mong Kok in an attempt to temporarily retake the streets. It has also 

popularized the Cantonese phrase gau wu—which means “shopping” in a mainland accent, 

as well as “speaking nonsense”—as a slang term for “occupying.” The phrase originated from 

an earlier anti-Occupy protest, in which a mainlander told iCable News that she was in 

Mong Kok to gau wu. 

Our take: Cantonese puns—baffling to all! 

Quote of the Week 

“I realized that we have unknowingly been 

living in Pyongyang instead.” 

Actor and former police officer Wong Hei compares Hong Kong to the 

North Korean capital in a Facebook status. He posted the update after 

a former colleague joked that he would be allowed to attend a reunion 

dinner at the Police Officers’ Club, as long as he was not sporting a yellow 

umbrella. Wong has openly criticized the force over the alleged beating of 

Ken Tsang by seven police officers. He has since deleted the post. 

10 HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECEMber 5, 2014

UPFront 

HongKabulary 

Street Talk 

Mutually Assured Decoration 

(muːtʃəliː æʃO:rd dɛkəreɪʃn), n. 

Phenomenon by which Christmas shopping mall decorations 

become increasingly insane year on year, as no single mall 

is willing to back down and do a sensible display. 

“I just came back from a mall in TST that has a centerpiece where a robot Santa 

is interfering with a clockwork Rudolph. What is going ON” 

“It’s a tragic case of Mutually Assured Decoration.” 

Caption This 

HONG KONG—A bailiff posts an injunction order in Mong Kok. (Felix Wong/SCMP) 

➢ 

➢ 

➢ 

➢ 

➢ 

Cultivating Christmas spores for maximum infectious jollity. 

Hanging combustible stockings precariously close to over-clocked 

electric heater. 

Five golden rings for five stashed-away mistresses. 

Prophylactic tinsellectomy. 

Googling “nog.” 

Modern Day Martin Luther Paves Path Toward Freedom 

Urban Bureaucrat Travels the World, Tagging Surfaces with Triplicate Paperwork 

City’s Bailiffs ‘Simply Overwhelmed’ With All the Attention 

Fast Facts 

Ho Ho Ho 

How are we preparing for the festive season 

Weapon House is an online shop specializing in medieval 

swords and armor. Owner Rei Tsang has been collecting 

weapons for over 12 years. He tells Yannie Chan about his 

collection and making leather armor for his cats. 

HK Magazine: Why medieval weapons during house parties—my friends and I all 

Rei Tsang: In most cartoons and movies, gear up and take loads of photos. 

men have weapons that feel like 

extensions of their personalities. I like HK: Which one is your favorite 

the sense of justice the weapons carry: RT: A sword even taller than 

they’re used to kill monsters and villains. a person—the Dragon Slayer 

I have about 300 weapons, and I have Sword from the manga “Berserk.” 

some custom-made equipment that only I loved it so much I decided to 

exists in manga. My collection is all cold actually produce it. I drew the 

weapons, meaning they do not involve design and had a factory make 

explosives. These older weapons are like it. It’s smaller than it is in the 

art. A machine can churn out hundreds of manga, but even so, I can’t 

guns and rifles a day, but it takes months hold it properly. Creating 

and years to create a sword. 

something that only exists 

in the fictional world into 

HK: How do you feel about the 

an actual weapon gives 

violence inherent in all weapons me intense pleasure. 

RT: Many do say that to me, and they think 

of weapons as vicious objects. Firstly, I only HK: What’s the craziest thing 

collect and sell unsharpened weapons. you’ve ever done 

That basically makes them safer than fruit RT: Aside from opening Hong Kong’s first 

knives. But more importantly, unlike modern weapon shop That would be making leather 

weapons, archery and the art of wielding a armor for my cats, so they can be battle cats. 

sword take years to perfect. That trains your I spent days making the armor, and they 

mind as well. 

hate it! You have no idea how many photo 

attempts it took to get a nice shot. They were 

HK: Is it legal to sell weapons 

begging me to take the armor off. 

RT: I was worried about this, and I consulted 

my lawyer friends. It turns out that you can HK: How have these weapons 

sell sharpened Japanese swords—weapons changed you 

that can seriously injure someone—and RT: This might sound a bit dramatic, but it 

it’s perfectly fine. But you can’t own or sell teaches me patience and determination. 

weapons that are smaller in size and therefore Designing and making a weapon from scratch 

easily hidden. Things like knuckle dusters, is a pain in the neck. It can get tedious, and it 

butterfly knives and extendible batons are takes many attempts. My current project is to 

prohibited, but many people still ask about create a true-to-size Dragon Slayer Sword: 

them. I only stock unsharpened weapons and I’ve already bought several machines to make 

if I come across a customer who seems off, the curvature. 

I only sell him decorative weapons. 

HK: Zombies take over Hong Kong. 

HK: What do you do with all 

What’s your game plan 

your weapons 

RT: Since all of my weapons are unsharpened 

RT: Unfortunately, I do not know how to use and some are unrealistic, I’m not sure they 

them. It would be cool to learn the different would help very much. But chainmail, an 

sword styles and martial arts, but I’m more armor made of small metal rings linked 

into looking into the history behind each together, protects the body very well. I’d 

weapon. I used to publish a free magazine, immediately put that on and run away. 

called “Weapon House: Weapon News,” about 

the weapons’ designs and lesser-known facts. Check out Weapon House at www.facebook. 

I sometimes take out my weapons and admire com/WeaponHouse. 

them. My collection also comes in handy 


UPFront 

Politically Incorrect 

with Chip Tsao 

Hong Kong Dinner Table Talk 

Condemning the American encirclement 

of China has become a fashionable 

topic among well-heeled Hong Kong 

Chinese gathered at the dinner table. 

This is perhaps due to an increasing 

number of Hong Kong businessmen 

and professionals traveling to the 

mainland, where their Chinese hosts, 

mostly Communist Party members, have 

been hypnotizing them with the official 

version of the general propaganda. If you 

wish to take part in the process, this is 

how to proceed: 

Once the piglet is served with a 

couple of flashing light bulbs as an 

appetizer, it is most convenient to 

slaughter Abe of Japan, America’s 

staunchest Asian ally, as target No. 1. 

Yes, the Diaoyu Islands belong to China, 

and we all know there will be a war 

soon and we’ll reclaim them. Taiwan’s 

Ma Ying-jeou looks like a sissy but he’s 

deceptive—the tender-talking, effete 

president has been long been a running 

dog of the White House. 

When the steamed fish enters, 

it’s time to take on Australia’s premier 

Tony Abbott, who is forming an 

encroachment-partnership with Obama 

more solid than something you’d find on 

“Brokeback Mountain.” Even Vietnam is 

treacherously flirting with Washington for 

more McDonald’s to open in Hanoi and 

Ho Chi Minh City. The Indians always hate 

us (as much as we hate them; hence, 

the banquet does not include curry). 

Needless to mention the grinning Ninoy 

of the little Philippines, whose job seems 

to be to annoy us all the time. Malaysia 

cannot be trusted as it is Muslim— 

Obama’s mother was a big fan of 

Indonesia. So the US net has been spread 

wide to encircle us, leaving us with half 

a hole up in South Korea where we can 

possibly try to befriend that woman, 

another Park—the daughter of once the 

most unwavering anti-communist leader 

in Asia, Park Chung-hee. 

It is easy to join the conversation 

when you are half-full and bored with 

the Yeung Chow Fried Rice. If you’re 

looking to quickly make your patriotic 

Hong Kong Chinese host happy—he is 

the one who pays the bill, after all— 

then add this red cherry to the cake: 

now is the best time for us to resume 

our alliance (yes, “our,” as Hong Kong is 

no longer British but a part of China) with 

the Russians. Putin will need to be as 

reliable a friend to Xi Jinping as Roosevelt 

was to Churchill, if we are going to bury 

the US and win the next World War (here 

you should go back to the right analogy 

involving Britain, rather than mentioning 

Hitler and Tojo). 

When the fruit is served, it is a good 

time to plug that last remaining hole 

after you glance at your watch. Tell them 

you firmly believe that the Umbrella 

Revolution is funded by the US. This is 

the last jigsaw piece needed to make it a 

most pleasant evening. 

The ambiance of an abalone 

dinner party held by local businessmen 

in Central or The Gallop at the Jockey 

Club is so relaxing, you can just sit 

back and mumble into the mainstream 

without concern. Let your mouth get 

busy and full while your brain unwinds 

and switches off. 

Chip Tsao is a best-selling author, columnist 

and a former producer for the BBC. His columns 

have also appeared in Apple Daily, Next 

Magazine and CUP Magazine, among others. 


UPFront 

The Right to be Forgotten 

By Zach Hines 

We’ve written a lot about how 2014 

has been a watershed year for Hong 

Kong. Take your pick: It’s an awakening 

of youth; the genesis of an activist 

generation; the year the rule of law was 

finally called into question; the first time 

the countdown to 2047 really resonated. 

All things considered, 2014 has been one 

of the most ludicrous years on record: 

rivalling 1841, when a British man in 

pantaloons put a flag up somewhere 

close to where Corner Kitchen Cafe is 

now in Sheung Wan. But did you know 

2014 was also a big year for Hong Kong 

and the right to privacy 

This year has been all about editing 

our search histories. An HSBC banker 

who was the victim of “extreme trolling” 

successfully got his negative Google 

results removed last week. Then there 

was media mogul Albert Yeung’s libel 

lawsuit against Google, for autocomplete 

results that suggested “triad” after you 

typed in his name. At the same time, our 

privacy commissioner, after a sustained 

yet failed campaign to prove that public ID 

card numbers were private data and thus 

databases could be bullied into removing 

the ID numbers of tycoons, has been 

pressing Google to apply the “right to be 

forgotten” rule here in Hong Kong. 

The “right to be forgotten” is a legal 

concept from Europe (where else) that 

empowers a person to apply to have 

old, unflattering data about themselves 

deleted from the internet. The sci-fi 

dystopia angle here is obvious, with the 

landed and lawyered eagerly exercising 

this right to obliterate publically available 

information about themselves. But let’s 

also think about the fuddy-duddy aspect 

of this concept. 

Younger people can envisage and 

even, I posit, feel comfortable with a world 

where sometimes ridiculous things are 

posted online. A future in which youthful 

discretions and follies remain visible on 

the permanent record is one we need to 

accept. You’d better believe that the CE of 

2047 is going to have some silly Instagram 

posts he’d rather have forgotten (and 

perhaps an Occupy support message 

or two). But by and large, that will be OK 

with the public, who will have grown up 

with this kind of thing. Unless, of course, 

you were an actual triad member. 

In the wrong hands, this “right to 

be forgotten” can get ugly faster than 

a book on fire can hit 451°F. But let’s 

consider the HK government’s case for it. 

I can see why they would choose this right 

of all rights to stand up for, considering 

that the government has crept silently 

into the shadows as soon as the going 

got tough. If the government was behind 

some of the extreme trolling in Mong Kok, 

with actual hired human trolls roughing up 

the scene, perhaps they could sue Google 

to clean up some of the autocompletes 

that suggest “Hong Kong government… 

hired triads.” 

We also need to consider the 

possibility that the government is 

practicing a sustained, extreme trolling 

of our once-beloved Hong Kong police, 

who have been left to pick up the 

pieces of a political disaster while the 

government exercises its right to be 

forgotten. In a few years’ time, the police 

will doubtless desperately like to delete 

the second half of 2014 from their search 

history and restore some of their lost 

honor. Indeed, the right to edit your 

search results will find many supporters 

in Hong Kong. Perhaps our privacy 

commissioner only has our long-term 

interests at heart. That may be so—but 

for the younger generation, 2014 is a year 

not soon to be forgotten, no matter how 

much you sanitize the search results. 

Zach Hines is the Editor-in-Chief of HK Magazine. 


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Hong Kong 

The 

Christmas 

Carol Book 

In the best of traditions, these Christmas carols don’t just 

entertain—they also educate. Transcribed from traditional 

folk performances by Adam White 

The 12 Days of Last- 

Minute Christmas Gifts 

On the first day before Christmas 

my true love ran out and got for me… 

A gift voucher from G.O.D! 

On the second day before Christmas 


Two terrapins… 

And a gift voucher from G.O.D! 

On the third day before Christmas 


Three French wines… 

Two terrapins… 

And a gift voucher from G.O.D! 

& so on, as follows: 

Four screen-print shirts… 

FIIIVE GOLLDD PIGGSS! 

Six tix to Lang Lang… 

Seven 7-Eleven beers… 

Eight soaps from Home Works… 

Nine Jenny’s cookies… 

Ten speakers speaking… 

Eleven hampers bulging… 

Twelve craft beers-a-hopping… 

1. G.O.D, G/F, Block A, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen St., 

Central, 2915-2822. 

2. SPCA, 2802-0501, www.spca.org.hk. 

3. Winebeast, 49 Johnston Rd., Wan Chai, 

2804-1318. 

4. Print House, 125 Stanley Main St., 

Stanley, 2813-9576. 

5. Chow Sang Sang, everywhere. 

6. Lang Lang, Dec 18-19, 8pm. Concert Hall, 

Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha 

Tsui. $480-1,980 from www.urbtix.hk. 

7. 7-Eleven, everywhere. 

8. Home Works, S506, Block A,PMQ, 

35 Aberdeen St., Central, www.home-works.org. 

9. Jenny Bakery, 15 Wing Wo St., 

Sheung Wan, 2524-1988. Cookies from $70. 

10. Native Union, www.nativeunion.com. 

Portable Switch speaker from $1,100. 

11. Gift Hampers HK, gifthampers.com.hk. 

12. Hop Leaf, hopleaf.hk. From $1,125 for 

12 beers a month (three-month period). 


We Three Kings 

We three kings from Orient hail! 

Bearing gifts we travel o’er vales: 

Field and fountain, moor and mountain, 

Following the Wilson Trail. 

Good King Li Ka-Shing: A Takeaway Turkey Parable 

Good King Li Ka-shing looked out 

On the feast of Christmas 

Boozy expats lay about 

Drunk and nude and listless 

Brightly shone the moon that night 

Through the harbor murky 

When a poor man came in sight 

Looking for a turkey... 

“Secretary, stand by me 

If thou know’st it, telling 

Yonder expat, who is he 

What can he be selling” 

“Sir, he teaches at a school 

Down by Sha Tin way 

He just wants a bite or two 

To eat on Christmas day.” 

“Let us get him turkey fine 

Gifting him the stuffing 

Thou and I will see him dine: 

It’ll cost him nothing.” 

Page and tycoon made their way 

Climbed into their Alphard 

To restaurants with takeaway 

They put it on the black card… 

Main Street Deli first of all 

Its menu filled to bursting 

CitySuper’s birds, though small, 

Have foie and chestnut stuffing 

Great Food Hall has turkeys fine 

and Max Concepts—and that 

Invisible Kitchen hides 

’Taters cooked in duck fat... 

So Li Ka-shing and PA both 

Chauffeured the meals to Sha Tin 

Where the poor man sat with broth 

Bubbling in a cauldron 

“We’ve brought you Christmas meals 

for free! 

This proves I have a soft spot!” 

“I wish you hadn’t, Mr. Li— 

I’m sitting down for hot pot...” 

Invisible Kitchen’s visible turkey 

Great’s festive spread 

Main Street Deli, 8 Peking Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 

2375-1133, hongkong.langhamhotels.com. 

$1,838 for combo set. Serves 6-10. 

CitySuper, all over. $3,988 for Christmas party 

set, including 3kg turkey with foie gras and 

chestnut stuffing. Serves 8. 

Great Food Hall, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, 

Admiralty. $1,500 for turkey set meal including 

7kg turkey. Serves 10-12. 

Max Concepts, www.maxconcepts. 

com.hk. Turkey $568 before Dec 18, 

$628 thereafter; pick up from select locations. 

Invisible Kitchen, invisiblekitchen.com. $2,000 

for set menu hamper with turkey, duck fatroasted 

potatoes and sides (delivery included). 

Serves 6-8. 

HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2014 19

O Tannenbaum (O Christmas Tree) 

This is an ancient German carol. We are pleased to present you with 

the original German, and a translation of our own devising. 

Hing Fat Flora, www.hingfatflora.com. 30cm trees, $200. 

Ikea, www.ikea.com/hk. 1.5m trees, $599; 2m trees, $699. 

Order before Dec 14. 

German: 

O Tannenbaum, o Tannenbaum, 

Wie treu sind deine Blätter! 

Du grünst nicht nur zur Sommerzeit, 

Nein, auch im Winter, wenn es schneit. 


Wie treu sind deine Blätter! 


Du kannst mir sehr gefallen! 

Wie oft hat nicht zur Weihnachtszeit 

Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut! 


Du kannst mir sehr gefallen! 

Translation: 

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree, 

How lovely are thy branches! 

They are green when the CCP is red 

They are green when yellow brollies spread! 


How lovely are thy branches! 


You just don’t fit inside here! 

The 6-foot trees bang on the door—a 

small one, then, from Hing Fat Flora! 


Guess there’s always Ikea… 

Countdown_Party2015_HK_Magazine_w254xh170_20141128_01_output.pdf 1 28/11/2014 1:08 PM 


God Rest Ye Merry, Bachelor 

God rest ye merry, bachelor 

Let nothing you dismay 

For you’ve got a Christmas bash: 

It’s really soon, you say 

WineShopAsia’s booze will be 

Delivered in a day 

O tidings of comfort and joy, 

Comfort and joy 

O tidings of comfort and joy! 

O crap you have no furnishings! 

You live life like a slob. 

But 20 guys with wives are here 

All with better jobs. 

How do you make your place look nice 

When time ain’t on your side 

O Franc Franc, Mirth and Zara Home 

And Zara Home! 

O Franc Franc, Mirth and Zara Home! 

WineShopAsia, www.wineshopasia.com. 

Next-day delivery if you order by 5pm. 

Franc Franc, Shop P306-308, Podium 3, World Trade Centre, 

280 Gloucester Rd., Causeway Bay, 2504-2226. 

Mirth, M/F, Yip Kan St., Wong Chuk Hang, 2553-9811. 

Zara Home, Shop 3205, 3/F, Harbour City, 3-27 Canton Rd., 

Tsim Sha Tsui, 2880-5068. 

HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECeMBER 5, 2014 21

While CY Surfed the Web All Night 

While CY surfed the web all night 

A-Googling his name 

A Liaison Officer came down 

And placed on him the blame. 

“You fool,” said he, “It’s almost time 

To gather round that tree. 

But you have done no shopping yet 

Your wife will murder ye.” 

“Oh crap, I’m screwed,” CY replied, 

“Caught in the X-mas rush. 

I’ve wasted all my time online 

With games of Candy Crush.” 

“Well, this is a pretty pass, 

But don’t give up,” said he. 

“The internet will save your ass 

With free delivery. 

“Zalora ships with speed and skill 

Fashion of every kind 

ShopinHK has rooms all filled 

With books to grow the mind. 

“Shop des Créateurs’ stylish threads 

Go globally for free. 

“The9thMuse is stocked high” he said, 

“With gorgeous jewelry.” 

“Liaison Man, you’ve saved my life!” 

Said CY gratefully. 

“What can I do to pay you back” 

“BURN HONG KONG!” said he. 

The9thMuse (offline) 

Zalora, www.zalora.com.hk. 

ShopinHK, www.shopinhk.com. 

Shop des Créateurs, www.shopdescreateurs.com. 

The9thMuse, www.the9thmuse.com. 

HK Magazine Adv 300dpi - Dec 2014.pdf 1 11/27/14 2:44 PM 


Go CarolLing 

Holiday music for all types—from movie mavens to 

festive philanthropists. By Melissa Frankenberry 

Film Buffs 

To celebrate Christmas 2014, The Kassia Women’s 

Choir will be performing songs from movies such as 

“The Muppets,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” “The Polar 

Express” and “Gremlins.” If you like good music and classic 

holiday movies, then you'll love this show. 

Dec 17 & 18, 8pm. Sheung Wan Civic Centre, 

345 Queen's Rd. Central, Sheung Wan, 2575-3931, 

www.katterwall.com. 

Flag-Flying Brits 

On December 18, the choir of Cambridge University’s 

Gonville & Caius College will be preforming a wide range 

of holiday tunes in “A Cambridge Christmas” at the Hong 

Kong Arts Centre. The group is one of the UK’s leading 

collegiate choirs with a stellar reputation thanks to extensive 

touring, CDs, and all-around impressive pipes. 

Dec 18, 8pm. Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Rd., 

Wan Chai, 9464-1941. $230-460 from www.hkac.org.hk. 

Karma Collectors 

The Hong Kong Women’s Choir is putting on “Joy! A 

Christmas Gala Extravaganza” this season, featuring 

upbeat Christmas songs with harmonious arrangements 

from a cappella arm The Grace Notes. It’s a great way to 

get in the holiday spirit, as proceeds support two charities: 

Home of Loving Faithfulness, and Arts and Enterprise for 

Women. 

Dec 10, 7pm. Ballroom, Conrad Hotel, 

Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, 2844-8900. 

Tickets $888-1,888 from thkwc.org. 

Shopaholics 

Check out the first-ever Sai Kung Christmas Carnival, 

where there will be Christmas caroling aplenty and 

an obligatory appearance from Santa, as well as stalls 

from over 30 local businesses stocked with goodies like 

organic wine, handmade Christmas decorations, crafty 

jewelry and games. It’s the perfect place to browse for 

stocking stuffers! 

Dec 13-14, 11am. Sai Kung District Community 

Centre at Mei Yuen Street in Sai Kung, 

www.saikungchristmascarnival.org. 

Traditionalists 

The Cecilian Singers choir is presenting an “O Holy Night” 

Christmas concert in the super-atmospheric St. John’s 

Cathedral. Founded in 1962, the choir is one of Hong Kong’s 

oldest, so you can expect big things. Proceeds from the 

event benefit Médecins Sans Frontières’ international Ebola 

projects, so you can enjoy a lovely evening of music, mulled 

wine and mince pies all in support of a great cause. 

Dec 9, 7:30pm. St. John's Cathedral, 4-8 Garden Rd., 

Central, 2570-3783, $200-300 from ceciliansingers.com. 

Cecilian Singers get their carol on 

HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECeMBER 5, 2014 23

TRADITIONAL ITALIAN FESTIVE MENU 

Buone Feste 

A December 

to Remember 

Just ‘cause the weather’s cooling down doesn’t mean your 

social life can’t heat up. Tristan Ruzic picks the top 10 things 

to do this December. 

Wed, Dec 24 th & Wed, Dec 31 st 

~ 4 course menu ~ 

$368 per person 

+ 10% s.c. 

6pm onwards 

Just Dance 

Celebrate this season with The Hong Kong Ballet’s rendition of 

Christmas classic The Nutcracker. The show will see ballerinas 

from over 40 countries and regions twirling together with local 

children. What’s more, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta is providing 

the musical accompaniment, so it’s gonna be a doozy. 

Dec 19-21, 24-28. Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, 

10 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2105-9724. 

$140-1,000 from www.urbtix.hk. 

SHOP G09, ONE ISLAND SOUTH, 2 HEUNG YIP ROAD, WONG CHUK HANG, ABERDEEN | TEL: +852 2528 0772 

http://elgrande.com.hk/restaurant/gcx 

/gcx 

BUONE FESTE 

Wednesday, December 24 th 

5-course Christmas menu 

with a glass of wine 

6-course Tasting Menu 

Glass of bubbly and wines included 

$398 $498 

+10% sc per person 

Wednesday, December 31 st 

+10% sc per person 

Foodie Fest 

Grab your loosest pair of pants, because 

it’s time for Hong Kong’s 12th annual Food 

Festival. With five full days of promotions 

and discounts on grub from all over the 

world, foodies will be spoilt for choice 

at this massive indoor food fest. Look 

for Hong Kong delicacies, wine, coffee, 

desserts, dried seafood, a “Taste of Korea” 

and much more. 

Dec 25-29, 10am. Hall 3, HKCEC, 

1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai. $20 at door. 

Sake Bombs 

It doesn’t get much better than sushi, 

sake, and 300-pound Japanese sumo 

wrestlers in action—and this year’s Sumo 

Sushi Sake has stepped up its game with 

professional wrestling matches. If you’re 

keen to compete yourself, check out sushiand 

hot dog-eating contests. Still hungry 

Get your fill at the many Japanese food 

stalls lining the harborfront. 

Dec 13, noon. West Kowloon 

Waterfront Promenade, West 

Kowloon. www.SumoSushiSakeHK. 

com. $270-570 at the door. 

B/F & G/F, 16 Elgin Street, Central | Tel: +852 2525 5770 

vwww.elgrande.com.hk/restaurant/mostaccioli-brothers 

24 HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, December 5, 2014

Cocoa Chanel 

The fancy-pants sixth annual Chocolate 

Party at the W Hotel is stuffed with cocoacovered 

treats. From caramels to coffee 

liquors, the chocolates will be as sophisticated 

as the company. Chocolates not a sweet 

enough deal Tack on some awesome extra 

entertainment—think lights, lasers, DJs, 

and quality music—and you have one cool 

confection party. 

Dec 20, 10pm. 7/F, W Hotel, Grand 

Ballroom, 1 Austin Rd. West, West 

Kowloon. $420 from www. 

ChocolateParty.com/tickets or at 

the door. 

Raise the Roof 

Who doesn’t love rooftops, music and 

December’s glorious weather For a dose 

of all of the above, head to Hong Kong’s 

first-ever Roofest. This new cultural festival 

is all about “overground art,” which promises 

live performances from eight DJs, as well as 

exhibitions from street artists like Mark Goss, 

Peter Yuill and Parent’s Parent. In the way 

of goodies, there’ll be Nice Pops popsicles 

on board as well as a vinyl records 

shop, shirts from Print House and a 

handmade jewelry booth. 

Dec 6, noon-midnight. 5/F, Easy- 

Pack Industrial Building, 140 

Wai Yip St., Kwun Tong.$120 

from www.eventbrite.hk 

or at the door. 

HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, december 5, 2014 25

Night at the Races 

Whether you are a racing enthusiast or a 

budding bidder, no matter: the Longines 

Hong Kong International Horse Races 

is sure to be a good time. While the horses 

race in 1,200 to 2,400-meter legs, you can 

show off your own skills by juggling beers 

and betting slips. 

Dec 14, noon. Sha Tin Race Course, 

racing.hkjc.com. $10 at the door. 

Shop ‘Til You Drop 

Attention shopaholics: the Brands and 

Products Expo is back for its 49th year. 

There will be 880 booths set up featuring 

quality products, plus homegrown and 

international brands. It’s a dangerous 

environment for those who love food, 

beverages, fashion, household, and beauty 

products (but who likes any of that). With 

Christmas approaching, the Expo is also a 

great opportunity to start checking off that 

shopping list. 

Dec 13-Jan 5, 11am. Victoria Park, 

Causeway Bay, www.hkbpe.com.hk. 

$10 at the door. 

Street Spirits 

Everyone knows the holidays are the one 

acceptable time to hang out in Lan Kwai 

Fong: check out the Christmas Street 

Party, where sparkling decorations, great 

bar deals, special food menus, and crowds 

of merrymakers balance out the usual 

suspects. If you plan on feasting, be sure 

to book a table. 

Dec 24 & 31. www.lankwaifong.com. 

Great Expectations 

It’s back! Get ready for the AIA Great 

European Carnival. It’s been eight years 

since the city last saw this show, but get 

this: it’s not just returning as a one-off. 

Nope! It’s here for three consecutive years, 

so make it a tradition. In addition to more 

than 70 rides, there will also be games and 

food, food, food. 

Dec-Feb. The Terrace, New 

Central Harbourfront, tgec.asia. 

Weekdays: $90; weekends: $125. 

The Final Countdown 

The countdown to New Year’s is closer 

than you think, and you don’t want to miss 

out on the New Year’s Fireworks. Claim 

your viewing spot early, whether you’re 

planning to watch from a night cruise on 

the Bauhinia ($520, www.cruise.com. 

hk), a rooftop bar such as Sevva (25/F, 

Prince’s Building, 10 Chater Rd., Central, 

2537-1388), or a restaurant overlooking the 

harbor like The Peninsula’s Felix (Salisbury 

Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2696-6778). Quick, 

snag your seats! 

Dec 31, midnight. 


Melbourne Munchies 

From coffee to cake to craft beer, Kate Springer takes a bite out of this famously foodie city. 

Here’s a wining and dining shortlist for your next trip down under. 

It’s a food-for-all at 

Hellenic Republic 

Dip into Movida’s tapas 

Melbourne: a gourmand and graffiti artist’s playground 

This is what a Kugelhupf looks like 

Get your coffee fix 

at Seven Seeds 

Grab your Myki travel card and hop on the 

Melbourne tram, because you have some 

work to do. The foodie scene in the capital of 

Victoria, on the southeastern side of Australia, 

is a gourmand’s playground. 

Polish Cakes 

A testament to Melbourne’s international 

culinary chops, Cake Street in St. Kilda is 

famous for its string of Polish and Eastern 

European bakeries. The veritable Monarch 

Cakes (103 Acland St., (+61) 3-9534-2972, 

www.monarchcakes.com.au) has been 

pumping out its famous silky chocolate 

Kugelhupf cake from this quaint storefront 

since 1934. Many of the recipes were inherited 

from the family’s original shop in Poland—and 

everything you see is made from scratch. 

Order: You have to get the Kugelhupf—don’t 

try to pronounce, just point! While you’re there, 

dig into a Polish cheesecake too, which is made 

with a 100-year-old recipe. 

Spanish Tapas 

Find your way through the graffitied laneways 

for Spanish tapas at Movida (1 Hosier Lane, 

(+61) 3-9663-3038, movida.com.au). This long- 

Gourmet Donuts 

Melbourne has long been a champion of coffee, 

but now the city’s picking up some donut chops 

too. Artisanal bakers are popping up in the 

laneways to serve these meticulously crafted 

sweets. Try Short Stop (12 Sutherland St., 

www.short-stop.com.au), where donuts are 

made fresh all day behind the counter and you 

can count on a good long black to match. 

Order: We have nothing but praise for the 

Earl Grey and Rose ($30) and the Bourbon 

Crème Brulée ($33) donuts. Except that they 

didn’t last long enough. 

Coffee! 

One of Melbourne’s greatest assets is 

genuinely awesome coffee. Even if you don’t 

know your Aeropress from your elbow, the 

baristas at Seven Seeds (106-114 Berkeley St., 

(+61) 3-9347-8664, sevenseeds.com.au) will get 

you sorted with beans from Latin America and 

Africa. The place balances out its hipster farmgrunge-chic 

surrounds with earnestly helpful 

staff and great food, too. 

Order: Ask one of the servers to walk 

you through the day’s beans, as they shift 

seasonally. Try a short black roast for maximum 

signatures, including the rightly well known 

Little Creatures Pale Ale. 

Order: Try the citrusy IPA, and the Rogers’ beer, 

which balances caramel and hops. 

Greek Food 

Thanks to several waves of Greek emigration 

to Australia, there’s plenty of great Greek food 

around town. But the restaurant of the hour 

has to be Hellenic Republic (434 Lygon St., 

(+61) 3-9381-1222, www.hellenicrepublic.com. 

au), which feels like a family-style tavern. 

Head here for big hearty portions, a boundless 

wine list of Hellenic varieties, and 16 types of 

ouzo. Just be sure to book ahead as this place 

fills up nightly. 

Order: Start with 

the taramasalata 

white cod roe 

dip, freshly 

baked pitas, 

and the 

Cypriot grain 

salad; finish with 

the lamb shoulder, 

slow-roasted on the bone 

and served with a huge melty head of garlic. 

Where to Stay 

Cool Kids: Hole up at The Prince hotel in St. 

Kilda, one of Melbourne’s artsier neighborhoods. 

The boutique design hotel sports stylish 

rooms, spa-like bathrooms and several notable 

restaurants. Though it’s not in the center of 

town, The Prince is in a great neighborhood 

for live music, harbor sunsets and beach 

bumming—there’s a stretch of sand just across 

the street. 

From $1,200, including an awesome 

breakfast. 2 Acland St., St. Kilda, (+61) 

3-9536-1111, www.theprince.com.au. 

Classy Cats: The sophisticated Lyall Hotel 

& Spa is located on a quiet, leafy street in 

South Yarra. The neighborhood is a go-to for 

great brunch—don’t miss Two Birds One Stone 

(twobirdsonestonecafe.com.au)—and upscale 

shopping, along Toorak Road and Chapel Street. 

The hotel itself is an all-suite deal, though the 

rooms are a little drab. Excellent service and a 

super luxurious spa make up for it. 

From $1,583. 16 Murphy St., South Yarra, 

(+61) 3-9868-8222, thelyall.com. 

Getting There: Qantas flies direct daily (from 

$6,000-12,000, depending on time of year). 

standing favorite is a Melbourne institution, 

flavor; or a short white for smoother sips. 

with four iterations and counting in the city. 

Each branch is a little different, but we’d 

recommend the original spot off Flinders Street. 

Expect a mix of creative bite-sized tapas and 

bigger ración to share. 

Order: We loved the house cold-smoked 

Spanish mackerel, spiced chicken salad, and 

duck liver pâté and foam on brioche. 

Or just get one of everything! 

Craft Beer 

For a sure-fire beer experience, pull up a stool 

at Little Creatures (222 Brunswick St., (+61) 

3-9417-5500, www.littlecreatures.com.au). 

The tap house is huge and happening, with 

open-air seating and a “sampler” board ($86) 

that features a smattering of seasonals and 

Little Creatures: 

a little of everything 

The Prince’s minimalist-chic digs 

28 HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECember 5, 2014

Peninsula Pours 

No trip to Melbourne is complete without one thing: wine. 

Famous for excellent pinot noir and chardonnay 

producers, the Mornington Peninsula, south of 

the city, is a great way to explore the region’s 

wine circuit. Here are a few of our favorites. 

• Start at the rustic, open-air Montalto 

Vineyard & Olive Grove (33 Shoreham Rd., 

www.montalto.com.au), where you can sit 

outside and contemplate your wine in peace. 

• Then head to Port Phillip Estate (263 Red 

Hill Rd., www.portphillipestate.com.au), an 

architectural marvel with sexy, sleek interiors 

and floor-to-ceiling views of the vineyards. 

• Don’t miss Ten Minutes by Tractor (1333 

Mornington Flinders Rd., tenminutesbytractor. 

com.au): expect deep red interiors and 

deeper red wines. If you want to splash out 

on a dinner, this is the place. 

Just for fun: Round off a romantic day with 

a dip in the Peninsula Hot Springs (from 

$232 per person, www.peninsulahotsprings. 

com), where you can join the crowds or opt for 

an intimate private grotto. 

Where to Stay 

Big Blue Backyard is one of the coolest 

places I have ever stayed. A warm couple, 

Paul and Lisa Dempsey, runs this unique 

property, with three “hideaway” cottages 

scattered among a huge plot of forested land. 

A maze of arched trees and blooming bushes 

lead to dramatic cliffs overlooking St. Andrews 

Beach. Paul is a trained chef who cooks up a 

storm: the rate includes a bountiful in-room 

breakfast spread, and you can also arrange 

private dinners. I’m still daydreaming about 

Paul’s peppercorn steak with its jus. 

It’s a must if you’re in Mornington. 

From $3,942 per night. 56 Paradise Drive, 

St. Andrews Beach, (+61) 3-5988-6011, 

www.bigbluebackyard.com.au. 

Getting Around: You’ll need to hire a car 

to get around. Try Hertz (from $400 per day, 

www.hertz.com.au). Alternatively, 

check out Top Drops private wine tours 

(from $330 per person for full-day tour, 

www.luxurywinetoursvictoria.com.au). 

Get steamy in the 

Peninsula Hot Springs 

A Big Blue breakfast 

Slurp’s up at Montalto Vineyard 

A Big Blue Backyard 

worth exploring 

Hideaway all day 

at Big Blue Backyard 

HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECember 5, 2014 29

PERKS 

Sponsored Feature 

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marvellous stylistic Christmas trees, an 

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Mezzo Offers American 

Italian Festive Cuisine 

Mezzo at Regal Kowloon Hotel offers 

American Italian Semi-buffet Dinner in 

this festive season, with unlimited serving 

of lobsters, snow crab legs, Parma ham 

and etc., followed by sumptuous main 

courses at your choice such as goose 

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Christmas turkey “sous vide”, oven roasted 

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festive dessert sampler. 

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Christmas Carnival at 

The Charterhouse 

Causeway Bay 

Christmas is around the corner! It is time 

to share this wonderful yet warm season with 

your beloved, family and friends. To start this 

joyful Christmas carnival at The Charterhouse 

Causeway Bay, an array of enticing and 

scrumptious delicacies and buffet (starts 

from HK$208 up) will be served in different 

restaurants throughout December to bring 

you a memorable day. 

1/F, Regal Kowloon Hotel, 71 Mody Road, 

Tsimshatsui, Hong Kong, 2313 8778 

HomeSquare presents 

Chairs and Sofas Exhibition 

From November 22, 2014 to January 4, 2015, 

HomeSquare, “ the Hong Kong’s biggest 

one-stop home shopping mall” presents “Mr. 

Chair-Man – A Christmas Showcase of Men’s 

Favourite Chairs and Sofas”, an exhibition of 

more than 33 internationally renowned celebrity 

talent designer chairs and sofas, showcased in 

nine cities with exclusive disclosure to analyze 

their own ideal personality throne. 

209 – 219 Wanchai Road, Hong Kong, 2892 3388 

art space Artouch HK 

Artouch HK is a multi functional venue for 

artists to present their artwork and music etc. 

Regular events are held to promote 

the performing arts. www.artouch.hk 

Date: 22 Nov 2014 – 4 Jan 2015 

Venue: HomeSquare L1 Atrium, 138, 

Sha Tin Rural Committee Road, Sha Tin 

Enquiry: 2634 0666 

Regal Oriental Hotel 

Christmas Fiesta 2014 

Celebrate this Christmas in style! Regal 

Oriental Hotel has prepared a wide array of 

Christmas festive dining ideas for you to share 

with your family and friends. Café Neo brings 

you scrumptious lunch buffet from HK$268 

and dinner buffet from HK$438, live band with 

Christmas set lunch and dinner are ready to 

serve in The China Coast Pub + Restaurant. 

LG Shop C2, No.89-95 Hollywood Road Sheung Wan. 

(entrance on Shin Hing St) 

T.9780-1853 

Regal Riverside Hotel 

Sizzling Christmas 

Celebrations 

With festive decorations, children’s carol 

and ballet performances, our 6 restaurants 

and bars are the perfect choice to spend 

a truly sizzling Christmas celebration with 

your loved ones. Choices include poolside 

barbecue dinner buffets from HK$498, Italian 

cheese fondue dinner from HK$408, Carving 

semi-buffet dinner from HK$398, Japanese 

shabu-shabu dinner from HK$488 and Thai- 

Vietnamese hot pot dinner from HK$328. 

30-38 Sa Po Road, Kowloon City, Hong Kong, 

2718 0333, www.regalhotel.com 

MCM x Strumbel Limited 

Edition Collection 

The luxury brand MCM is pleased to 

announce the exceptional collaboration 

with the internationally renowned German 

contemporary artist Stefan Strumbel, 

introducing the “MCM x Strumbel” Limited 

Edition Collection. This unique collection 

plays with the iconic Visetos pattern and 

the recognizable artwork prints of Stefan 

Strumbel, showing strong contrast in a very 

expressive yet sophisticated way. 

34-36, Tai Chung Kiu Road, 

Shatin, 2132-1234 

G/F Entrance & Whole of Basement, Entertainment Building, 

No.30 Queen’s Road Central, Central, Hong Kong 

Tel: 2117 3955

Get more out of HK | SHOPPING + TRAVEL + DINING 

Bullet Proof 

It’s time to start cooking up some great 

gift ideas: whether you’re trying to 

support local brands or find a good cause, 

Emi & Eve’s socially conscious designs 

are a great place to start. Lamma-ite and 

founder Cassandra Postema employs a 

team of disabled workers and earthquake 

refugees in China to create her bags and 

jewelry, which are made from recycled 

bomb casings and bullet shells left over 

from Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge period. 

emiandeve.com 

HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, December 5, 2014 31

LOOKbook 

with Katie Kenny 

Shopping 

Between office Secret Santa Parties, holiday dinners and splurges on your SO, 

the holidays can get expensive. Whatever the reason, sometimes you need to find 

great presents that won’t deplete your savings. Here are a few under $500 ideas 

that should help stretch your wallet till 2015. 

Faces 

Shop 202, Harbour City, Ocean Terminal, 

2-27 Canton Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 

2118-5622. 

Lab Concept 

93 Queensway, Admiralty, 2118-3599. 

PhatRice 

phatrice.com 

The Refinery 

S410, 4/F, PMQ, 35 Aberdeen St., 

Central, 9545-9393. 

Tommy Hilfiger 

Shop 20, 5/F, Sogo, 555 Hennessy Rd., 

Causeway Bay, 2831-3950. 

Urban Clichés 

www.urbancliches.com. 

Zalora 

www.zalora.com.hk. 

Lookbook 

Loves 

Beanie, $490, 

Tommy Hilfiger 

Postcard box set $350; $15 each, 

Urban Clichés 

iPhone 5 case, $280, 

Candies @ The Refinery 

Cosmetics bag, $151, 

Bez & Oho @ PhatRice 

Necklace, $400, 

Cheap Monday @ Lab Concept 

Lip set, $480, 

Fresh @ Faces 

Boucle jacket, $499, 

Miss Selfridge @ Zalora 

Scarf, $350, 

Armor Lux @ The Refinery 


deck the halls with 

TREEts and holly! 

make your holiday season bright with beautiful eco 

hanging ornaments, warm scented candles, and 

festive table decor! 

And with the gift of a flower subscription, give that 

merry feeling all year 'round with fresh arrangements 

delivered right to the door. how festive! 

order now : www.tree.com.hk/flowers-from-the-heart/ 

SEASONAL 

SALE NOW ON! 

eco-wood tables, chairs and shelves, plus comfy couches, 

stylish sofa beds, and so much more. 

up to 50% off TREE favourites 

TREEt yourself before they’re gone! 

28/f horizon plaza | ap lei chau | t. 2870.1582 

other stores : sai kung | soho 

www.tree.com.hk

DINING 

Feast Navidad 

Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, you still deserve a Christmastastic meal 

this December. Check out Melissa Frankenberry’s round-up of jolly holiday feasts. 

Chrimbo at Kinsale 

Creature comforts at Comfort 

Festive sweets at Staunton’s 

Wooloomooloo gets delicious 

Zuma to dinner 

Christmas Comforts 

Michelin-starred chef Harlan Goldstein is adding some 

festive flair to Comfort: find his own Christmas favorites on the 

menu December 24 and 25. You can enjoy Harlan’s slow-cooked 

Christmas turkey seasoned with Italian ingredients and savory 

homemade gravy, as well as a slew of sides. All Christmas’d out 

Not to worry, the usual à-la-carte menu will also be available. 

5/F, Grand Progress Building, 15-16 Lan Kwai Fong, Central, 

2521-8638. 

Wine ’n’ Dine 

No traditional Christmas meal is complete without some 

steaming mulled wine or a Christmas pudding, just like they make 

them at Staunton’s Wine Bar and Café. Throughout the month 

of December, this popular SoHo wine bar will be offering a special 

Christmas set lunch menu from $68-198. The menu is brimming 

with classic holiday treats that’ll have you glowing with Christmas 

cheer in no time. Oh wait, that’s probably the mulled wine. 

G/F, 10-12 Staunton St., Central, 2973-6611. 

Early Bird Special 

At Sevva, festivities begin early with the Christmas set 

lunch ($520) served from now till December 25. The threecourse 

meal covers all the classics—think roasted turkey, 

crispy potatoes, and a fig Christmas pudding. But lunch is just 

the opening act: the main event is a five-course Christmas Eve 

set dinner ($2,380 per person), which includes traditional eats 

and music on Sevva’s sprawling terrace. 

25/F, Prince’s Building, 10 Chater Rd., Central, 2537-1388. 

Here Comes Santa-gria 

Celebrate Christmas with a splash of Spanish flair at tapas 

resto Boqueria. If you are an indecisive orderer, this is the place 

for you. There are so many small plates that you can have a bite 

of everything—and you won’t want to miss the lobster paella, 

fire-roasted ribeye or the padron peppers. Wash it all down with a 

glass or two of “Santa-gria” ($88 per glass), a festive twist on the 

restaurant’s popular red sangria. 

7/F, LKF Tower, 33 Wyndham St., Central, 2321-8681. 

Santa’s Sushi 

To celebrate the holidays this year, Zuma presents an 11-course 

seasonal tasting menu that’s available throughout December. 

At $1,140 per person, diners can feast on fresh Shigoku oysters 

with shiso salsa, crisp pan-fried foie gras, an angus ribeye with 

wafu sauce and, of course, Zuma’s famous selection of sushi 

and sashimi. Merry Christmas to you! 

5-6/F, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Rd. Central, 3657-6388. 

Winter Woonderland 

Wooloomooloo serves up sizzling premium steaks and 

classic grilled favorites at a variety of locations—some of which 

boast picturesque views of Victoria Harbor. The experienced chefs 

have created tailor-made Christmas menus that are stacked with 

holiday favorites. For example, the Wooloomooloo Steakhouse in 

Wan Chai will be offering a four-course meal ($898 per person) 

complete with surf ‘n’ turf options such as Chesapeake-style 

crab balls, lasagna al forno, and grilled Australian tenderloin. 

Several locations, including Wooloomooloo Steakhouse, 

256 Hennessy Rd., Wan Chai, 2893-6960. 

Festive Frites 

Belgian beer hall Frites is serving up a variety of 

Christmas dishes this month that reflect the restaurant’s 

European vibes. Look for the Christmas “express” a la carte 

lunch and dinner menus, which offer a slew of traditional tastes 

and Belgian twists. The Turkey Ballotine and a “Bûche de Noël” 

(a Belgian chocolate sponge dessert rolled in chocolate 

shavings) are staples throughout the month, but the rest of the 

festive treats will update weekly. Have a lot of friends to feed 

Frites is also offering three different Christmas dining packages 

for larger parties. 

Two locations, including Oxford House, Taikoo Place, 

979 King’s Rd., Quarry Bay, 2250-5188. 

A Kinsale Christmas 

Until December 31, Kinsale will be serving a month-long 

Festive Menu featuring some tasty-sounding specials ($298 

for two courses; $349 for three): try the delicate pumpkin-androasted-apple 

soup, followed by a hearty plate of roasted turkey, 

honey-glazed ham, pork and chestnut stuffing, and caramelized 

parsnips. Finish off with a tasty Christmas pudding made with 

brandy custard. Heading back for more Kinsale is also putting on 

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day menus ($508 for two courses; 

$588 for three) that include five appetizers, five main courses and 

five desserts to choose from—a Christmas miracle indeed. 

Shop 2, New Fortune House, 2-5 New Praya, Kennedy Town, 

2796-6004. 


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Other vintage covers also available on hk-magazine.com/store

DINING 

NEW AND NOTED 

with Adele Wong 

Guiltless cake at The Awakening 

Not Epure Coincidence 

If you’re looking for cross-harbor gems, 

the Dalloyau group has added fine-dine 

Epure (Shop 403, Ocean Centre, Harbour 

City, 3-27 Canton Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 

3185-8338) and outdoor bar La Terrasse 

to its repertoire. The flagship patisserie/ 

restaurant and new establishments are all 

clustered together in the corner of Ocean 

Terminal, with Epure holding court where 

Spasso used to be. Get settled in a forestwallpapered 

booth and dig into decadent 

specialties by French chef Nicolas Boutin, 

who worked in Bordeaux and high-end 

resorts in the Caribbean and the Maldives 

before ditching it all for Hong Kong. 

’Tis the Season 

Get your bums over to La Saison by 

Jacques Barnachon (2/F, The Cameron, 

33 Cameron Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2789- 

8000), because it’s one of the best things 

to happen on Kowloon side this year— 

even though it took me a while to discover 

it. (For some reason, news from across 

the harbor travels light years slower to my 

desk.) LS’s culinary director is the same 

Jacques Barnachon of Michelin-starred 

L’Etang du Moulin in scenic Bonnetage 

in eastern France, but it’s executive chef 

Florian Muller who churns out all the 

painstakingly prepared dishes, using 

ingredients that correspond to the French 

agricultural calendar. The current menu 

incorporates winter truffles, pumpkin and 

black figs into veal, sea bream and duck 

dishes. If they’re serving anything like the 

plump scallops paired with crispy pig’s 

ears, or the lobster dumplings soaked 

in an intense seafood broth (which took 

many Boston lobster shells and days of 

reduction to achieve) that I had during our 

media tasting, then I’m sure the dishes will 

pretty much sell themselves. 

Hostess With the Mostest 

Planning to host your own holiday feast 

this season Look no further than online 

one-stop-shop Eezy Peezy Parties 

(www.eezypeezyparties.com) for your 

party supplies. If you’re an over-the-top, 

obsessive-compulsive hostess like me, 

nothing will bring you more joy than 

having color-coordinated napkins and 

plastic utensils, or absolutely unnecessary 

but irresistibly cute three-tiered cupcake 

stands. EPP has a whole bunch of 

Christmas-themed goodies in stock, 

from advent calendar boxes to paper 

ornaments to reindeer-shaped cups. I may 

or may not be planning my Christmas 

party menu based entirely on the themes 

of the plates I will soon be ordering. 

Up and Running 

SYP’s Awakening Cafe is now The 

Awakening (G/F, 1-6 Ying Wa Terrace, 

Sai Ying Pun). It’s been taken over by 

chef Mike Boyle, who used to man the 

kitchen at Bistecca, and prior to that, 

headed the Hotel Rhombus restaurants. 

The new Awakening is a haven for healthy 

foodies (an oxymoron) and specializes in 

gluten-free dishes, paleo-friendly foods, 

and vegan options. This is pretty much a 

180 from a chef who up until recently had 

been dishing out creamed corn, sausagetopped 

pastas and 16-ounce ribeyes 

on a daily basis. Respect! So what can 

we order at this completely revamped 

neighborhood eatery Quinoa pastas, 

14-ounce ribeyes (for carb-loathing 

paleovores, we assume), and gluten-free 

chocolate cakes, to name a few. 

Sweets at La Saison 


Time to U Hang out 

Hung Up On U 

U Hang (Shop 6-6A, 48-78 High St., Sai Ying Pun, 2549-6788) is the follow-up project to 

popular mod Korean resto Sanche in Central, and this time ‘round it’s all about Korean 

snacks and comfort food in a casual bar setting. As far as I know, there aren’t going to 

be the usual suspects like dobbokki (spicy rice cakes), bibimbap or kimbap rolls—instead, 

we’re talking short ribs, sliders and KFC (not the Kentucky variety). Wash it all down with 

a soju cocktail or a steaming cup of Korean tea. 

Hikari Bartaurant—all Japanese to me 

It’s a Bird... It’s a Plane... It’s a Bartaurant! 

Apparently, the folks at Hikari Bartaurant (Shop B, G/F, Jet Foil Mansion, 415-421 

Jaffe Rd., Causeway Bay, 2808-0292) decided that neither “bar” nor “restaurant” 

were suitable enough terms to describe their brand-spankin’ new venue. If it 

was going to be a forced mashup, I personally would’ve gone for “restobar,” 

but hey, to each their own. Hikari will be serving salads, yakitori and other 

Japanese dishes bar-snack-style, paired alongside cocktails, wines 

and sake. Upon entry, you will be greeted by (ninja) graffiti 

on the walls—a 2014 hipster bar pre-req. 

Email me at adele.wong@hkmagmedia.com 

or follow me on Twitter: @adelewong_hk. 


Culture + nightlife + film 

Walk Walk 

Fashion Baby 

Wong Wo-bik is one of Hong Kong’s most 

illustrious photographers. Best known 

for documenting splendid old architecture before 

it’s torn down, Wong’s new exhibition focuses 

on the idea of observing and being observed. 

Her new photo-series-within-a-photo-series, 

“Not Just a Fashion Parade” sees models 

donning shirts printed with Wong’s own artwork, 

while they strut precariously across diverse 

backdrops: from ancient Roman aqueducts to 

tightropes. Playful artistic imagination or a slow 

move towards fashion photography You decide. 

Through Jan 11. Lumenvisum, L2-10, 

30 Pak Tin St., Shek Kip Mei, 3177-9159. 

38 HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECember 5, 2014

ARTS 

Edited by Evelyn Lok 

evelyn.lok@hkmagmedia.com 

Need to Know 

Theater & Arts 

Urbtix (credit cards) 2111-5999 

Urbtix (enquiries) 2734-9009 

HK Ticketing 3128-8288 

HK Arts Centre 2582-0200 

Fringe Club 2521-7251 

HK Cultural Centre 2734-2009 

HK City Hall 2921-2840 

HK Academy for Performing Arts 2584-8500 

Kwai Tsing Theatre 2408-0128 

LCSD Music Programme Office 2268-7321 

LCSD Dance/Multi-Arts Office 2268-7323 

LCSD Theatre Office 2268-7323 

UPCLOSE Craig Downing and Marcus Gadau 

The one-day short film showcase, Couch 

Film Fest, comes to Hong Kong for the 

first time this year. Evelyn Lok speaks to 

founder Craig Downing (l) and the man 

who brought it to Hong Kong, Marcus 

Gadau (r), about how the festival will 

fare in the SAR. 

HK Magazine: So what’s Couch Film Fest 

all about 

Craig Downing: Our mission is to bring people 

together with mind-blowing films. So, it’s a film 

fest, sure, but really it’s a community development 

project disguised as a film festival. We wanted to 

create an appealing event for people to come to, 

in order to share an experience and hopefully talk 

to each other about it. Shorts seemed like a great 

approach, since the commitment is low and there 

are so many to pick from! If they are around four 

minutes, people might be more likely to try them 

out, versus committing to a full movie. 

Drunker than a Skunk (USA) BÄR (Bear) (Germany) Dick Food (USA) 

Marcus Gadau: Another aspect of Couch Film 

Festival is to bring people together in a new and 

personal way. I was immediately fascinated by the 

idea when I met Craig in Seattle. People in Hong 

Kong are always in a hurry, nobody has time for a 

three-hour movie! 

HK: How will the films here differ from those 

shown at the original event in Seattle 

CG: All the shorts are under eight minutes— 

on average about four minutes. That way people 

are more likely to take a risk with a genre they don’t 

typically like. We have a little bit of everything, from 

everywhere. Most of the films are celebrated films 

from the recent international film festival circuit— 

Cannes, Berlin, Seattle, Toronto, Palm Springs and 

many others. We have films from Australia, Germany, 

Canada, Spain, Canada, Cambodia—so many other 

countries. We have documentaries, comedies, dark 

comedies, drama, animation, experimental and 

some genre-bending films. 

HK: So what happens on the day itself 

MG: We will be providing Barcelona-style 

homemade sangria with special winter ingredients 

to spice up the festival. There will be breaks 

between the movies, allowing room and time for 

social interaction and, obviously, there’s a common 

topic to indulge in. The sangria will do the rest! 

Film buff with nothing to do this weekend 

Hop over to The Hive on Dec 6, 3pm to take part 

in the Couch Film Fest. The Hive, 21/F, The Phoenix 

Building, 23 Luard Rd., Wan Chai, 3568-6343. $100 

from www.eventbrite.hk; $50 for unlimited drinks 

until stock runs out. 

Valentine (UK) 

Life Patented (Austria) 

Stage 

Theater 

HK Players Panto 2014: Puss in Boots 

The Hong Kong Players are back with their 

yearly holiday pantomime that’s packed with 

fun for the whole family. This year, they bring us 

an all-new production of “Puss in Boots.” Jane 

Archibald plays the titular cat (sorry ladies, no 

sexy Antonio Banderas voiceovers here), who 

with the help of Dame Trifle and Alice, takes 

down Mayor Boris and the Evil Queen of the 

Rats. It’s always guaranteed to be a sold-out 

run, so make a last-minute grab! Dec 5-6, 11-13, 

7:30pm; Dec 6, 14, 2:30pm; Dec 7, 12:30pm, 

5pm. Shouson Theatre, Arts Centre, 2 Harbour 

Rd., Wan Chai. $290-330 from www.urbtix.hk. 

Charles Dickens: 

Tonight, A Christmas Celebration 

What holiday season is complete without 

Charles Dickens’ Christmas staple, “A Christmas 

Carol” Daniel Foley of the UK’s Performance 

Exchance company brings us a poignant and 

lively reflection of Dickens’ life, playing the 

famous author himself. He’ll be joined on stage 

by a cast of well-known Dickensian characters, 

including the old miser Ebeneezer Scrooge. 

Bah, Humbug! Dec 12-13, 7:30pm. Fringe Club, 

2 Lower Albert Rd., Central, 2525-1032. $100-130 

from www.hkticketing.com. 

Brave Heart Theatre: Three Little Men 

The intimate venue theater series continues. 

Local writer Wing-man Lam takes inspiration 

from Edward Albee’s famous (and Pulitzer Prizewinning) 

play “Three Tall Women” and turns it on 

its head with a Hong Kong twist to play around 

with stereotypes about sex, size, and race. Brave 

Heart Theatre shows are one hour long, and run 

every Wednesday to Friday. Through Dec 19, 

7pm, 9pm. Premium, B/F, 212-216 Wing Lok St., 

Sheung Wan, 9175-1402. $100-200 from www. 

ticketingover.com; $150-250 at the door. 

Dance 

Duras Project: 

Moderato Cantabile/C’est Tout 

Literary nerds, get ready to take your emotions 

to To Kwa Wan’s Cattle Depot, where dance 

performances will commemorate the 100th 

birthday of the late Vietnam-born French writer, 

Marguerite Duras. Duras was an eminent avant 

garde writer, playwright and film director, and 

two multimedia dance performances will take 

place, inspired by two of her best known works: 

“Moderato Cantabile” and her last piece, “C’est 

Tout”—both explore Duras’ favorite themes 

of love and death. Dec 12-14, 8pm; Dec 13-14, 

3pm. Cattle Depot Theatre, Cattle Depot Artist 

Village, 63 Ma Tau Kok Rd. $220 from 

www.urbtix.hk. 

Storm Clouds 

Based on the acclaimed Hong Kong martial arts 

graphic novel series of the same name, the 

original creator Ma Wing-shing takes up the role 

of art director in this brand new production by 

the Hong Kong Dance company. It coincides 

with the grand finale of the comic series, which 

means you’ll be duking it out with its hardcore 

fans for tickets to this phenomenal translation 

to stage. Dec 12-14, 7:45pm; Dec 13-14, 3pm. 

Grand Theatre, Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Rd., 

Tsim Sha Tsui. $160-360 from www.urbtix.hk. 

Carmen 

The world famous Antonio Gades Company, 

AKA flamenco royalty, will grace Hong Kong with 

three performances of “Carmen”—the ultimate 

gypsy femme fatale—set to Gades’ acclaimed 

original choreography. The dance is based on 

the original novella by Prosper Mérimée and is 

a tale of Romani bandits, romance, jealousy, and 

many, many confusing Spanish names. Jan 2-3, 

2015, 8:15pm; Jan 4, 2015, 3pm. Grand Theatre, 

Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui. 

$180-520 from www.urbtix.hk. 

Classical 

A Jazzy Evening 

with Bleu 

Fondue 

Apparently, the 

new jazz ensemble 

Bleu Fondue 

brings “a potpourri 

of styles” to the 

Fringe Dairy stage. 

The five-piece 

band is made up of 

Hongkongers from 

all walks of life: 

violinist Jonathan 

and pianist Michael 

are orthopedic surgeons; physiotherapist Chung 

plays the drums; Felix, a solicitor, plays the 

electric bass; and HKPhil Principal Violist Andrew 

Ling rounds off the group. If you’ve ever been 

curious about jazz violin, then check out this gig. 

If the name is anything to go by, expect quirky, 

strong and pungent tunes. Dec 5, 9:30pm. Fringe 

Club, 2 Lower Albert Rd., Central, 2525-1032. 

$130-170 from venue.. 

Good Music at the Fringe 

with James Cuddeford 

The HK Sinfonietta’s Concertmaster James 

Cuddeford steps out for this concert series 

at the Fringe Club. For the debut concert, 

he presents a broad range of music played on 

multiple violins and a cello. Pieces range from 

classical to modern, by the likes of Purcell, Bach, 

Elliott Carter and Prokofiev. Dec 9, 7pm. Fringe 


$90-100 from hksl.org, including one drink. 

Oliver Coates 

The British Council brings award-winning 

cellist Oliver Coates to town for a musicianin-residence 

program. He’ll be taking part 

in an array of workshops and collaborative 

performances throughout the city—in particular, 

partnering up with local musician Kung Chi 

Shing. Aside from classical cello, Coates is 

also known to dabble in electronic music, and 

occasionaly blends the two worlds together. 

After his workshops, you can check out his 

music at a group and solo performance on 

December 8 and 9 ($120 from venue), and a 

free street concert on December 20, both at 

the Hong Kong Arts Centre. Dec 8-9, 20, 8pm. 

Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Rd., Wan Chai, 

2582-0200. Free. 

Photo:HK Sinfonietta Ltd Photo:Phil Sharp 


ARTS 

Pogorelich 

The brilliant Belgrade-born pianist Ivo Pogorelich 

takes to the stage this month for a lengthy oneman 

showcase of Liszt, Schumann, Stravinsky, 

and Brahms. Pogorelich has been called many 

things: a genius, a poet, and a visionary “200 

years ahead of our time.” And you thought the 

future was all about rap and dubstep. Dec 9, 

8pm. Concert Hall, Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury 

Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui. $200-500 from www.urbtix.hk. 

Yundi Li at the HK Coliseum 

Yundi Li has become a household name since 

winning the prestigious International Chopin 

Piano Competition at the tender age of 18—with 

his signature wind-blown, Takuya Kimura-style 

coiffure that he’s chopped off in recent 

years. Shame. He’s also perhaps the biggest 

modern proponent of Chopin’s music. Li plays 

Hong Kong’s Coliseum for the first time this 

December—don’t miss it! Dec 13, 8:15pm. Hong 

Kong Coliseum, 9 Cheong Wan Rd., Hung Hom. 


HK Philharmonic with 

Lang Lang 

Piano superstar Lang 

Lang barely needs an 

introduction; He takes the 

stage this December for 

an epic presentation of piano concertos with 

the HK Philharmonic and Principal Conductor 

Jaap Van Zweden. It’ll be two very different 

affairs on the two evenings: the spotlight will be 

on Mozart’s famed last piano concerto on the 

first night, and on the romance of Tchaikovsky’s 

works on the second. Dec 18-19, 8pm. Concert 

Hall, Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Rd., Tsim Sha 

Tsui. $480-1,980 from www.urbtix.hk. 

Photo:Harald Hoffmann 

Alessandro Lanzoni Jazz Trio 

Following on from a slew of rave reviews and 

accolades, jazz pianist Alessandro Lanzoni was 

recognized as the best new talent of the year 

in 2013 by Musica Jazz magazine for being 

a forerunner of contemporary Italian jazz. 

Presumably the secret lies in syncopating your 

gesticulating. See Lanzoni’s trio with Matteo 

Bortone on the double bass and Enrico Morello 

on the drums at a free concert at the Hong 

Kong Arts Centre. Be sure to register early for 

a spot. Dec 19, 8pm. Shouson Theatre, Arts 

Centre, 2 Harbour Rd., Wan Chai. Free; register 

at eventbrite.com. 

Maksim 

The Croatian-born pianist Maksim Mrvica is 

known for his lightning fast playing, for being 

one of the first to make it big by blending upbeat 

dance rhythms into classical piano, but perhaps 

most of all, for his goth-rock bad boy image 

which earned him a massive following across 

Asia in the early-to-mid noughties. See the man 

performing in Hong Kong for the first time ever, 

accompanied by his band. He’s only playing one 

show, so get your tickets quick—they’re sure to 

be snapped up in a flash. Dec 21, 4pm. Hall 5G, 

HKCEC, 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai. $380-880 from 

www.hkticketing.com. 

Island Express Jazz Orchestra 

Live at Fringe Dairy 

The Island Express Jazz Orchestra is Hong 

Kong’s very own big band—headed by music 

director Shoichi Chinda, the musicians and solo 

vocalist Ela Allegre, who come from a variety of 

international backgrounds. They’ll be playing a 

tasty selection of big band jazz standards and 

songs by contemporary jazz composers Bob 

Mintzer, Frank Mantooth and Matt Catingub. 

Dec 27, 10pm. Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Rd., 

Central, 2525-1032. $120-150 includes one drink. 

Comedy 

ComedyHK Presents: Brent Weinbach 

America’s kookiest rising star Brent Weinbach 

sparks off his Asian debut this December. 

His refreshing, surreal humor and deadpan 

delivery has earned him a dedicated following 

in the States. On top of already having had the 

spotlight on him on the Comedy Central and talk 

show circuit, he’s appeared on the alt stand-up 

tour “The Comedians of Comedy” with Zach 

Galifianakis, and was also a winner of the Andy 

Kaufman award, a yearly accolade recognizing 

innovation in stand-up comedy. Much of 

Weinbach’s routines take on character snippets 

from real life: wanna see him don the attitude 

of a hardcore gangster, the smarm of a jazz 

musician, or let out an impression of his Filipino 

uncle Get your tickets before December 8 for 

$250, or $300 at the door. Tuesday’s gig is held 

at Salon de Ning (The Peninsula, Salisbury Road, 

Tsim Sha Tsui), Wednesday at Sunset Lounge 

(100 Cyberport Rd., Cyberport), and Thursday at 

Dada Bar and Lounge (The Luxe Manor Hotel, 39 

Kimberley Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui). Dec 9-11, 8:30pm. 

Opera 

Puccini’s Turandot 

Puccini’s famous last opera, “Turandot,” is 

known for being full of conundrums. Based 

in China, it centers on the story of Princess 

Turandot, who gives her suitors three riddles 

that they must answer correctly for her hand in 

marriage. If they fail, they are beheaded. When 

Prince Calaf gets all three correct, the Princess 

backs out of her promise. Calaf offers to set 

her free and take his own life—but only if she 

can guess his name. How’s that for a Chinese 

puzzle The opera was left unfinished when 

Puccini passed away in 1924, and there are two 

endings that were subsequently written—The 

Franco Alfano endings will be played on the 

first and third performances, and the Luciano 

Berio ones on the second and last. It’s the first 

time ever that both endings will be played in the 

same production. Dec 12-13, 7:45pm; Dec 13-14, 

2:30pm. Concert Hall, City Hall, 5 Edinburgh 

Place, Central. $150-630 from www.urbtix.hk. 

Advertorial 


Exhibitions 

Hu Yongkai 

Even if you aren’t familiar with Hu Yongkai’s name, 

you’ll recognize his paintings. The Beijing native is known 

for his colorful, distinctive portraits of women with clean, 

simple lines and brightly colored flat backgrounds, which 

place him on the cusp of modern and traditional Chinese 

painting. Hu’s ladies all have the same facial expression: 

slight eyes and a tiny pout. Could it be An egotistical 

self-representation of the artist Or just a comment on 

selfie culture Dec 5-28. Wan Fung Central Showroom, 

63 Staunton St., Central, 2596-0038. 

Konstantin Bessmertny: Stir-fry 

Russian-born, Macau-based artist Konstantin Bessmertny 

returns with a cultural stir-fry of old and new works. See his 

signature surreal and absurdist oil paintings, which comment 

on everything from the way he values intelligence, to tongue-incheek 

references to the progress of humankind. The intricately 

painted details are met with a brutish cast of characters, often 

in the middle of borderline offensive acts. In Bessmertny’s words, 

“straightforward messages are disturbing”—so expect a grand 

time trying to decipher every hidden story. Through Jan 31, 2015. 

10 Chancery Lane Gallery, 10 Chancery Lane, Central, 2810-0065. 

Dimension 

Avenue des Arts is about to trip you up with its holiday season show, featuring two artists who 

attempt to stretch the idea of mental and physical dimensions in their work. You’ll see creations 

by the French sculptor Laurence Bonnel, whose art is often a series of forms—vases, people, or 

something completely abstract—in the process of decay or movement. Complementing Bonnel’s 

works are ethereal shots of China and Hong Kong’s overpasses by Hong Kong-based photographer 

Paul Milburn. Through Jan 17, 2015. Avenue Des Arts, Unit 6, 12/F, Hollywood Center, 

233 Hollywood Rd., Sheung Wan, 2744-6699. 

Conforming to Vicinity: 

A Cross-Strait Four-Region Artistic Exchange Project 

This artist exchange project brings together 13 artists from 

Hong Kong, the mainland, Macau and Taiwan. The series 

of works has been touring the region, confronting Asia’s 

conflicting social structures and cultural conventions. Expect 

thoughtful works investigating identity, land, and history. 

Through Feb 1, 2015. University Museum and Art Gallery, 

Hong Kong University, 94 Bonham Rd., Pok Fu Lam, 2241-5500. 

T: +852 2554 9088 

902 Horizon Plaza, 2 Lee Wing Street, Ap Lei Chau, Hong Kong 

www.everythingunderthesun.com.hk 


nightlife 

Edited by Andrea Lo 

andrea.lo@hkmagmedia.com 

Twitter: @andreas_lo 

hk picks 

Night Bite 

Events promoter Fresh Off the Boat brings us this party: Expect nibbles from Zuma all night, and an open 

bar from 11pm-1am. After you stuff your face, throw shapes courtesy of a roster of DJs. The lineup includes 

Neil Armstrong (no, not the astronaut), who used to be Jay Z’s tour DJ; queen of club bangers Eve Speciall 

(pictured); and disco and funk DJ Subcoat, among others. Also: who could say no to an open bar Dec 6, 

11pm. Zuma, 5-6/F, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Rd. Central, 3657-6388. $300-350 from www.ticketflap.com. 

Clubs 

Fashion Night at Boujis 

Ladies, hit up the club before midnight for some 

free bubbles. Sorry, boys. Dec 11, 10pm. Boujis, 

37 Pottinger St., Central, 2324-0200. Free. 

Kaskade 

Prive Group’s new joint Bungalow turns into a 

nightclub after dark, and it’s bringing in house 

DJ Kaskade to christen the decks. Dec 11, 

10:30pm. Bungalow, Shop 2, G/F, The Centrium, 

60 Wyndham St., Central, 2623-7868. $450-600 

from www.eventbrite.com. 

Ben Klock 

Berlin-born techno DJ 

Ben Klock takes over 

Volar, as part of the 

celebrations for events 

promoter Push’s fifth 

anniversary. Dec 12, 

10pm. Volar, B/F, 38-44 

D’Aguilar St., Central, 

2810-1510. $150-250 

from www.ticketflap. 

com; $300 at the door before 12:30am and 

$400 thereafter, both include two drinks. 

Gigs 

Underground 115 

At 115, expect to see everything from folk 

to alternative rock bands. There’s pop, folk 

and indie-rock duo One Talent, consisting 

of a married couple who made their start in 

Vancouver; indie rockers The Sulis Club; plus 

alt-rock bands Mockingbird and Van De Kamp. 

Dec 5, 8:30pm. Backstage Live, 1/F, Somptueux 

Central, 52-54 Wellington St., Central, 2167-8985. 

$120 from www.ticketflap.com; $150 at the door. 

Revocation 

US metal band Revocation has been around since 

2000, bringing thrash and death metal sounds 

to fans over four albums and regular live shows. 

Don’t like metal Maybe move along. Dec 6, 

8pm. Hidden Agenda, Unit 2A, Wing Fu Industrial 

Building, 15-17 Tai Yip St., Ngau Tau Kok. $220 

from www.ticketflap.com; $280 at the door. 

I Am Waiting For You Last Summer 

Post-rock and indie-electronica Russian band 

I Am Waiting For You Last Summer [sic] is making 

a flying visit. Ignore the grammatically incorrect 

name—they probably did it for the SEO. Dec 7, 

8pm. Hidden Agenda, Unit 2A, Wing Fu Industrial 

Building, 15-17 Tai Yip St., Ngau Tau Kok. $200 

from www.ticketflap.com; $240 at the door. 

Yellowcard 

Early noughties teens, this one is for you. 

Remember LA pop-punk band Yellowcard The 

four-piece is here on its Asia tour. Hands up if 

“Ocean Avenue” was your teen anthem, circa 

“The O.C.” years. Dec 7, 8pm. Musiczone, KITEC, 

1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay. $380 from 

www.cityline.com; $450-550 at the door. 

The Drums 

US indie pop duo The Drums returns to Hong 

Kong. Active since 2008, the Brooklyn-based 

twosome has toured with the likes of the 

Bombay Bicycle Club and supported Florence 

and the Machine. Dec 11, 8pm. Musiczone, 

KITEC, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay. $395-495 

from www.cityline.com; $540 at the door. 

Hong Kong Gig Guide 

5th Anniversary Showcase 

Facebook page Hong Kong Gig Guide gives details 

of shows happening around town. Celebrating 

the page’s fifth anniversary, the owner—who is 

actually based overseas—is hosting a show at 

The Wanch. The gig features three of his favorite 

local bands: metal and hardcore group Shepherds 

the Weak, gothic band Vrank and alt-rockers Jat 

Bun Sing. Dec 11, 9:30pm. The Wanch, 54 Jaffe 

Rd., Wan Chai, 2586-1621. 

Just Music Gig 

The Fringe Club’s Just Music Gig boasts an 

eclectic mix of musicians. See guitarist and 

singer Roddy Yuen; alt-rock and Brit rock band 

Particle (pictured); plus acoustic cover band Nice 

to Meet You, a band formed at the Silvermine 

Bay Festival last year. Dec 13, 9:30pm. Fringe 


$160 at the door. 


New Year’s Eve 

The Mira 

Your attention please: there is an open 

bar at The Mira’s countdown party! Dress 

in masked glamour and see belly dancers, 

bands and live DJs. Go baller and drop some 

dollars on a cabana, which comes with 10 

tickets and all kinds of perks, like two magnums 

of champagne. After the party at alfresco bar 

Vibes wraps up at 2am, head down to lounge 

bar Room One. Dec 31, 9pm. The Mira, 

118 Nathan Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2368-1111. 

$788 before Dec 24; $888 thereafter, from 

www.themirahotel.com. 

Duddell’s 

The theme at the Duddell’s party is “Havana 

Nights,” which, naturally, comes with a live 

Cuban band. You’ll get a glass of champagne 

and a light supper, served after the countdown. 

Dec 31, 10pm. Duddell’s, 3-4/F, Shanghai Tang 

Mansion, Duddell St., Central, 2525-9191. 

$530 before Dec 10; $580 thereafter, 

from www.eventbrite.hk. 

Ozone 

Suit up in your sparkliest Sunday best, as the 

theme of this year’s party is “Diamonds in the 

Sky.” Expect live performers and international 

DJs Xinobi and El’se. Book a table and choose 

from the five bottle packages available: “The 

Glitter” is $14,500 and includes a bottle of 

Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque, plus a bottle of 

your choice, 20 shooters—and four boxes of 

Italian caviar. Dec 31, 10pm. Ozone, 118/F, The 

Ritz-Carlton, 1 Austin Rd. West, West Kowloon, 

2263-2010. $700 from www.eventbrite.hk; $350 

at the door after 12:30am. 

Recently, boxer Manny Pacquiao fought his 

second Sunday morning fight in Macau and 

I went for the weekend. Here’s my running diary: 

Saturday 

1pm We’re on the ferry to Macau. I go economy 

now, after realizing there’s no difference except 

the attendants put a rope in front of you to let the 

upper deck exit first. I pledge to start a revolution, 

then remember it’s bad luck to open umbrellas 

inside so I wait politely while quietly swearing 

under my breath. 

2pm Immigration. Gotta run to border control. 

I knock over a middle-aged woman, keep running, 

don’t look back. Look, we’re coming for a fight. 

Best to get in the right mindset. 

3pm Fatburger time! “Do you want to split one 

so we don’t have too many calories” I ask my 

friend. She stares at me like I’ve suggested killing 

the Pope. “Two Fatburgers,” I tell the attendant. 

“Triple patties.” It’s on. 

4:30pm Ugh. Time to do some work. I head to 

the media room. “I’m here for my pass” I say. 

“Do you have your confirmation printout and 

business card” I’m asked. I left it in the room. I 

pledge to start another revolution but instead walk 

away swearing politely under my breath. 

THE STRAIGHT MAN 

with Yalun Tu 

The Pacquiao Weekend 

5:45pm Have you ever been in The Venetian, 

forgotten something, and had to go to another part 

of The Venetian to get it It takes like two hours to 

get anywhere. Once, I got back from the tables at 

4am and my keycard wasn’t working, so I slept on 

the rug outside my door instead of trekking back to 

the front desk. Anyway, I have my pass now. 

8pm We’re at Fernando’s, ready for prawns and 

a Fatburger I may have smuggled in. I’m mid-fight 

with a platinum-dyed Irish blonde who keeps 

calling me “love” and telling me she didn’t just cut 

in line. “I was here first. I’m getting a beer,” 

I explain. “[Incomprehensible Irish accent]!” she 

responds. I give up. Three guys clap sarcastically at 

my failure. They turn out to be HBO cameramen. 

I ask if they’ll put me on TV. “No” the guy says. 

1am Well, that escalated quickly. Drinks, drinks 

and we’re at the Bellini Lounge. Early 2000s 

rapper Ja Rule is on stage. It’s typical rap concert 

stuff where they play a track and Ja yells random 

words. I realize rap concerts and my grandmother 

singing oldies is about the same experience. 

2am I’m in the bathroom. Ja Rule walks in. “Listen 

up!” he yells to nobody in particular. “There’s so 

much f****** money in this place. And we’re 

going to leave our mother f****** footprint 

Yalun Tu is a columnist for HK Magazine. You can reach him at yalun.tu@gmail.com or @yaluntu on Twitter. 

here!” It’s inspiring. I want to high-five him but 

my hand is currently holding my penis. 

3am I’m heading to bed and I run into Ja Rule! 

This moment was fated to happen. I’d tell you 

what happened but I’m out of space, and what 

happened that night should never be repeated. 

Sunday 

9am I’m at the fight. I’m amazed I got out of bed. 

They’re handing out free beers in my section. 

I decide to take it easy so I have seven. Also, 

chocolate ice cream. 

11am This is the moment we’ve been waiting for. 

The undercards have finished and now it’s Manny 

and Algieri. The crowd’s going MANNY! MANNY! 

MANNY! and I’m screaming and they show 

Stallone on the jumbotron and everyone chants 

ROCKY! ROCKY! ROCKY! Man, I love boxing. Algieri 

looks a bit like Chris Evans, i.e. he looks a bit like a 

dick. When Manny knocks him down we all cheer. 

When Manny knocks him down a second, third, 

and finally sixth time we’re going bananas. It’s the 

most bloodlust I’ve ever felt before lunch. 

5pm I’m heading home. My time-release 

hangover hits but I know I can look forward to 

speeding through immigration with my HKID while 

all these suckers wait in line. Until next year. 


SPORTS 

charlotte.mulliner@ 

hkmagmedia.com 

Edited by 

Charley Mulliner 

hk picks 

Corporate Sevens 2014 

It may not have quite the glamor, noise and ridiculous costumes of the Hong Kong Sevens, but the 

Corporate Sevens puts on a decent show of rugby for a good cause. This year’s tournament sees 

14 teams take to the pitch, raising funds for HK Society for the Protection of Children, to help the 

charity launch a sports program at its support centers. The Corporate Sevens Village also includes 

food and drink stalls, plus an all-day kids’ entertainment zone. And a whole lot less wayward urine. 

Dec 7, 9am. So Kon Po Recreation Ground, 55 Caroline Hill Rd., Causeway Bay. Free. 

What is the Gin Drinker’s Line * 

In all major bookstores now! Or order yours at: 

www.historicalhkhikes.com 

Sumo Sushi Sake HK 

Sushi and sake make a great pairing— 

add in sumo wrestling and you’ve got one 

bizarre sports-slash-foodie Japanese fest. 

Returning for a second year, the event 

features professional sumo wrestlers 

Wakaryusei Keisuke and Shoketsu Yoshiaki, 

both ranked top 10 in the Makushita division 

in Japan. Also an odd one to watch: the 

sushi and hot-dog eating contests! The 

outdoor festival on the West Kowloon 

waterfront includes food stalls from 

the likes of Tiger Curry, Mr. Bing, Sugo 

Sushi and Wagyu Master, plus live 

music. Dec 13, noon. West Kowloon 

Cultural District. $220-520 from 

www.SumoSushiSakeHK.com. 

Coming Up 

AXA Hong Kong Streetathon 

Sign up now for the second annual 

Hong Kong Streetathon, which will take 

runners through the streets of Kowloon 

East in a loop from the Kai Tak Cruise 

Terminal. There are two races: the 10km 

and—new to this year—the 21km half 

marathon which will take you through 

the Kwun Tong Bypass. The fancy dress 

theme this year is … toys! The terminal 

will transform into a carnival for the 

event, with concert performances, games, 

entertainment and even an outdoor yoga 

session on the old runway. How’s that for a 

quirky Sunday funday Feb 8 2015, 8:30am. 

Kai Tak Cruise Terminal, Kowloon City. 

$280-280 from www.runourcity.org. 

Longines Hong Kong Masters 2015 

Get your early-bird tickets for the one of 

the biggest social and sporting events of 

2015—The Longines Hong Kong Masters, 

Asia’s largest five-star international indoor 

show jumping event. Returning for its third 

year, 30 of the world’s best show jumping 

riders and horses will compete for three 

days for a total purse of $7.8 million. As 

well as the races, you can expect Michelinstarred 

cuisine, designer fashion shows, 

contemporary art, champagne tasting and 

luxury shopping—a taste of the high life. Even 

higher if you’re jumping a horse. Feb 13-15 

2015. AsiaWorld-Expo, Chek Lap Kok. $330- 

980 from www.cityline.com and Tom Lee 

Music Outlets. www.longineshkmasters.com. 

Rugby Sevens 

The online ballot is now open for the Hong 

Kong Sevens, to be held on March 27-29 

2015. Only 3,000 tickets a day are up for 

public ballot—so get working on your sports 

club or corporate sponsors now. Applicants 

can register for a maximum of two tickets for 

each of the three tournament days. If you’re 

lucky enough to snag a prized ticket, expect 

to pay more this year: with adult day passes 

now $300 for the Friday (up from $200) and 

$750 for Saturday and Sunday (up from 

$650). A three-day tournament pass will set 

you back $1,800, an extra $300 on last year. 

Registration is open until Jan 31. Winners 

will be notified electronically on Feb 4 with 

separate draws taking place for each day of 

the event. Apply at www.hksevens.com. 

Hot Opening 

Escapade Sports – Clearwater Bay 

Good news for fitness fanatics living in the 

New Territories—Escapade Sports has just 

opened up a branch in Clearwater Bay. 

Just like its other two stores, you can find a 

comprehensive selection of sports equipment, 

including swimwear, rugby and netball gear, 

plus fitness and trail running kit. Escapade 

Sports can set you up with everything from 

fashionable flip-flops to hardcore workout 

gear. Now you’ve got no excuse, NTers. 

Shop 5, 8/F, Silverstrand Mart, Clearwater Bay, 

2705-9919, www.escapade.com.hk. 


HK Mag ad.pdf 1 12/2/2014 6:50:10 PM 

FILM 

Edited by Evelyn Lok 

evelyn.lok@hkmagmedia.com 

The Theory of Everything PPPPP 

Directed by James Marsh. Starring Eddie Redmayne, Felicity Jones, David Thewlis, 

Charlie Cox. Category IIA. 123 minutes. Opened Dec 4. 

If pondering black holes isn’t really your cup of tea and ripples in the fabric of space-time don’t 

float your boat, then you’ll probably enjoy this biopic about scientist Stephen Hawking quite a 

bit. Because “The Theory of Everything” is really just a theory on Stephen Hawking’s love life. 

For all the scientific discussion in this film, Hawking may as well have been a chef. 

James Marsh, the Academy Award-winning director of “Man on Wire,” tackles this 

challenging biopic by basing it on Jane Wilde Hawking’s biography “Traveling to Infinity: My 

Life with Stephen.” It starts off introducing us to a young, active—albeit dorky and socially 

awkward—Stephen Hawking, crashing through the cobblestoned roads of Cambridge on his 

bicycle. The young cosmology student meets arts student Jane Wilde (the very pretty Felicity 

Jones) at a party, eventually sweeping her off her feet… until an accident leads Stephen to 

a life-changing diagnosis of motor neuron disease (ALS). The doctors predict that he has 

two years left to live. Despite these odds, the promising young scientist marries Jane, and 

fights his harrowing illness with her by his side. 

Rather than a story focusing on the achievements of the great scientist, probably for fear 

of the audience falling asleep at all the boring science talk (and indeed, all remaining science 

talk in this film seems to be pointed at a greater metaphor for Love and Life), Marsh’s take 

on Hawking’s life zooms in on the struggles of his domestic life—insecurities, arguments and 

jealousy silently boil between the two—as well as love, sacrifice, and ultimately, distance. 

It seeks to show us that despite Stephen’s professional achievements, his private life is its 

own story. 

The film wants to be a shining, lofty romance, yet it focuses on the couple’s imperfections. 

Then it hollowly dresses it up with a ponderous investigation of the nature of time within 

Stephen’s research: time he has little of before his illness takes over. There’s also a real lack 

of time spent actually showing us the couple falling in love: Their “chemistry” is illustrated as 

nervous glances across the room, and one cute but clichéd slow dance under the stars. Next 

thing you know, they have multiple kids. The bulk of this love story revolves around how tired 

Jane is of dealing with Stephen’s crap—hardly anything for us to swoon over, except with 

respect for the real Jane Wilde for single-handedly rearing a family. 

The release of the first Stephen Hawking biopic meant that all eyes would be on leading 

man Eddie Redmayne. Would he just be sitting mute in a chair for half the movie But there’s 

nothing to worry about here. Redmayne’s performance is exceptional. He nails all of his 

character’s emotions with his eyes alone: It’s subtle, fantastic acting. 

As for Felicity Jones, her portrayal of Jane is supposed to convey an unlikely and formidable 

strength, wrapped in a youthful and dainty appearance. It translates fairly well in scenes where 

Jane is supposedly still young, but it loses force as the plot moves on. 

The film is beautifully shot, with the soft dreary light and vintage charm of small-town England 

the whole way through—matching pretty well with an equally soft and dreary romance. There’s no 

grand sweeping love affair here: just quiet sacrifice with the occasional joys and successes of real 

life. It raises the question, though: why would you go to a cinema to see real life Evelyn Lok 

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FILM 

Coming soon 

It’s free! 

Cold in July 

(USA) 1989, Texas. In protecting his family 

from a home intruder, Richard Dane (Michael 

C. Hall) shoots burglar Freddy Russell in the 

head. If only they knew that it was the son of 

a ruthless ex-con, who soon comes gunning 

for the whole family. Expect blood-soaked 

revenge, and mullets. Opens Dec 11. 

Revenge of the Green Dragons 

(USA) Martin Scorsese teams up with Andrew 

Lau (“Infernal Affairs”) in a producer-director 

duo for this American gangster flick. The story 

centers on the New York’s Chinatown gangs 

of the 80s and its illegal immigration ops. 

Seedy underground mahjong rings and martial 

arts Hell yeah. But a questionable cast of 

Justin Chon (“Twilight”), dancer Harry Shum Jr. 

(“Glee”), and an appearance of YouTube star 

Kevjumba… we’re not rolling out the praise 

just yet. Opens Dec 11. 

Opening 

Five Minutes to Tomorrow 

(Japan/China) Japanese heartthrob Haruma 

Miura joins a Chinese cast for this romantic 

mystery. It’s about two identical twin sisters 

who are in love with the same man, Ryo 

(Haruma). The twins take a trip together… but 

only one returns. Ryo begins to suspect that 

the twin who returns is not the one she claims 

to be… Opens Dec 11. 

Jessabelle 

(USA) Produced by the guys who worked 

on “Paranormal Activity” and “Insidious” 

comes another supernatural spookfest, just 

as everyone’s getting their Christmas trees 

up. Hurray! Recovering from a car accident, 

Jessabelle (Sarah Snook) returns to her family 

home in Louisiana, only to discover a hidden 

family secret: a haunting that begins to 

threaten her life, obviously. Expect ominous 

VHS tapes and Southern voodoo, with plenty 

of ghostly attacks—all while Jessabelle 

remains wheelchair-bound. That’s pretty 

twisted. Opens Dec 11. 

A Most Wanted Man 

(UK) Based on a novel by John le Carré, this 

complex, heart-thumping film is about the life 

of spies. It centers around the half-Chechen, 

half-Russian illegal immigrant Issa Karpov 

(Grigoriy Dobrygin) who stumbles across 

the Hamburg border and into Islamic circles. 

In one of his last roles, late Philip Seymour 

Hoffman plays a German spy who tries to 

collect intelligence on the Muslim community 

and suspects Karpov of being part of a more 

elaborate terrorist scheme. Opened Dec 4. 

Best of Me 

(USA) Oh god, another teary-eyed romantic 

tragedy concocted by Nicholas Sparks. “Best 

of Me” follows the usual formula: Boy meets 

girl. They fall in love. Disapproving father 

figure stands in the way, but a death brings 

them closer together. This time, the boy and 

girl come in the form of estranged high school 

sweethearts Dawson (James Marsden) and 

Amanda (Michelle Monaghan), who return to 

their hometown for a mutual friend’s funeral. 

Bring your tissues. Opened Dec 4. 

h k - m a g a z i n e . c o m / h k t a b l e t 

Locke 

(USA) More Tom Hardy within the span of 

a month We’re not complaining. “Locke” 

follows Ivan Locke (Hardy) on a long drive 

one night, after he gets a single phone call 

which begins to unravel everything about his 

life: his family, his job and even his mind. With 

rave reviews for Hardy’s thrilling emotional 

performance, and tension-filled storytelling by 

director Steven Knight (“Eastern Promises,” 

“Dirty Pretty Things”), this is one intense 

psychological drama you’ll want to catch this 

December. Opens Dec 11. 

Our Family 

(Japan) A middle-aged mother of two is a 

long-term sufferer of a brain tumor, and as 

her mind soon falls into a state of dementia, 

all of her suppressed grievances, from 

debts to astranged family, begin to bubble 

to the surface. Her husband and two sons 

are at a loss for what to do. It’s like every 

dysfunctional family holiday! Opens Dec 11. 

Mini 

Review 

Contracted 

(USA) Directed by Eric England, 

this zombie-thriller follows the 

life of Sam, a twenty-something female who’s 

date-raped at a party… and begins to develop 

horrific symptoms that seem to turn her into 

a zombie. It’s as outrageous as it sounds; a 

girl is raped and then becomes a zombie 

To make things worse, the story line is so 

unbelievable it’s almost funny. Sure, zombie 

movies can’t exactly be realistic: but the girl 

literally has blood pouring out of her eyes and 

larvae coming out of her orifices, and no one 

seems to notice she’s sick Then there’s the 

supposedly traumatizing ending, which is so 

poorly executed that the audience erupted 

in laughter. “Contracted” has a few gross-out 

scenes and a few slightly thrilling surprises, 

but nothing makes up for the poor quality of 

the plot and ending. P 

Melissa Frankenberry 

46 HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, december 5, 2014

Need to Know 

AMC Cinema, 2265-8933 

www.amccinemas.com.hk 

Broadway Circuit, 

2388-3188 

www.cinema.com.hk 

Golden Harvest Cinema, 

2622-6688 

www.goldenharvest.com 

MCL Cinema, 3413-6688 

www.mclcinema.com 

UA Cinema, 

3516-8811 

www.uacinemas.com.hk 

The Metroplex, 2620-2200 

www.metroplex.com.hk 

The Grand Cinema, 

2196-8170 

www.thegrandcinema. 

com.hk 

hk pick 

Exodus: Gods and Kings 

(USA) Christian Bale plays Moses against 

Joel Edgerton’s Pharoah Ramses in this epic 

retelling of the biblical tale. That and the 

fact that this new 3D-tastic film is brought 

to us by acclaimed director Ridley Scott 

(“Gladiator,” “Alien”) is pretty much all you 

need to know. Go on, get your butt in the 

theater. Opened Dec 4. 

I Sell Love 

(Hong Kong) This local indie flick recently 

made its rounds on the international film 

festival circuit before finally opening in Hong 

Kong. With money struggles on her mind, 

undergrad student Tiffany willingly falls into 

prostitution. She finds a long-term client (Liu 

Kai-chi), but meets the hotblooded, politicalminded 

Rex (Chow Pak-ho), who provides a 

different worldview. She soon finds out the 

dire circumstances of the choice she has 

made. Opened Dec 4. 

The Drop 

(USA) What started as a short story by 

Dennis Lehane (“Mystic River”) has resulted 

in a dark, brooding thriller by Oscarnominated 

director Michael R. Roskam. 

It stars Tom Hardy and the late James 

Gandolfini (in his final film appearance), 

respectively, as the bartender and owner 

of a Brooklyn bar—a bar in which the city’s 

organized crime groups “drop” and stash 

their money. When Bob (Hardy) rescues an 

abused pitbull puppy, suddenly everything 

gets shaken into high gear. PPPP 

Cultivated in Volcanic Soil 

from New Zealand 

Revelation of 

Ghost Marriage 

(Hong Kong/Singapore) 

Sandra Ng and Jim Chim play Mr. and Mrs. 

Ng, middle-aged parents grieving for their 

adult son Peng, who died in a drowning 

accident. While Mr. Ng seems unaffected, 

Mrs. Ng regularly burns paper offerings to 

Peng. But Peng’s soul isn’t at peace, and 

one night he visits his mother in her sleep, 

berating her for being overbearing and not 

listening to his real needs. Mrs. Ng decides 

to help find Peng a wife in the afterlife. 

Their plan goes awry when a handsome 

young man picks up the bait, suggesting 

there’s more to Peng than Mrs. Ng thought. 

Two local comedy powerhouses Ng and 

Chim play subtle humor well in this dramaslash-black-comedy, 

with the well-captured 

brusqueness of the Chinese in matters of 

family and the heart. While the premise 

itself is unusual, and even quite flawed 

in execution with plenty of cringe-worthy 

dialogue, in the end it’s a worthwhile 

commentary on harsh parenting in Chinese 

culture—lasting even through to the 

afterlife. PP Evelyn Lok 

The Theory of Everything 

(UK) See review, p.48. Opened Dec 4. 

Continuing 

Mini 

Review 

Before I Go to Sleep 

(USA) Director Rowan Joffe (“28 Weeks 

Later”) has taken on SJ Watson’s bestselling 

thriller and scored Nicole Kidman, 

Colin Firth and Mark Strong for the leads. 

It’s about a woman who wakes up with her 

memory wiped clean every day as a result 

of a traumatic accident. One particular day, 

she unearths a terrifying truth which causes 

her to doubt everyone around her. Does this 

make it a slightly more upbeat “Memento” 

or a terrifying “50 First Dates” 

Dumb and Dumber To 

(USA) The long-awaited sequel to the 

Farrelly brothers’ classic is here. Twenty 

years on, best friends Lloyd Christmas 

(Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) 

reunite and embark on an epic trip to find 

Harry’s long-lost daughter, whom Lloyd has 

fallen in love with. Gross-out funny or just 

awful Time will tell. 

Grace of Monaco 

(USA) Nicole Kidman puts on her most 

glamorous face (which is, frankly, the 

same as all her other faces) to play the 

much adored Grace Kelly, across from Tim 

Roth as her husband, Prince Rainier III. 

This biographical film was by no means 

condoned by the current monarchy: it 

focuses on her inner identity crisis set 

during a seemingly overdramatized dispute 

between Prince Rainier and Charles de 

Gaulle in 1962. Fond of schmaltzy biopics 

Check it out. 

Hector and the Search for Happiness 

(UK) Simon Pegg is Hector, a psychiatrist 

with a clean and tidy life, a beautiful 

girlfriend (Rosamund Pike) and the same 

reliable roster of patients for years. But 

lately he’s been stuck in a rut. In struggling 

with how to bring real happiness to his 

patients’ lives, he goes off on a journey 

across the globe, and discovers what makes 

him happy along the way. In an attempt 

to tell a whimsical story of an Englishman 

opening up to his loved ones and patients, 

it’s become a smarmy, privileged, “Eat, Pray, 

Love”-esque outsider’s view of the world. 

Sigh. PP 

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FILM 

hk pick 

Horrible Bosses 2 

(USA) Jason Bateman, Jason Sudeikis and 

Charlie Day return as the three best friends 

who previously tried to off their obnoxious 

bosses. After narrowly escaping prison 

charges, the three decide that starting their 

own business is probably a better option, but 

once they’re duped by a wily businessman 

(Christoph Waltz), they decide to kidnap his 

adult son (Chris Pine) as a threat for ransom. 

We wish it was more fun. Instead, it’s more 

trailer trash: most of the good jokes—now 

dumber and dirtier than its predecessor— 

were already revealed in the promo, and the 

trio’s constant bickering is good for nothing 

but a migraine. PP 

The Hunger Games: 

Mockingjay Part 1 

(USA) Hollywood’s darling JLaw returns as 

Katniss Everdeen in the highly anticipated, 

penultimate installment of the “Hunger 

Games” franchise. As the resistance figures 

out a way to save Peeta—now captured 

by the government—Katniss is forced into 

the role of rebel hero to save everyone she 

loves. While full of great acting, beautiful 

cinematography and badass action (as 

badass as it gets for a YA movie), it’s the 

weakest of the series so far and feels like 

drawn-out filler before the grand finale. PPP 

Interstellar 

(USA) Christopher Nolan’s latest offering is a 

mind-boggling space adventure. Set in an age 

where Earth is increasingly unlivable, Matthew 

McConaughey and Anne Hathaway play 

extraterrestrial explorers sent to traverse the 

galaxy in search of a new home for mankind. 

You’ll be sucked in by the incredible visuals: 

allow them to distract you from the ridiculous 

Nolan-style plot twists. PPPP 

John Wick 

(USA) Keanu Reeves returns. This time, he’s 

John Wick, an ex-hitman who comes out of 

retirement looking for revenge on the Russian 

thugs and crime bosses who wronged him. 

The ones who mercilessly murdered his one 

last love, Daisy… his pet beagle. Slow claps 

all round for the greatest movie premise in 

years, and a standing ovation for all the guns, 

violence, and mayhem. PPPP 

Meeting Dr. Sun 

(Taiwan) In order to afford their tuition fees, 

a group of teenage boys plot to steal the Sun 

Yat-sen statue on campus and sell it for hard 

cash… only to find that another group of boys 

has exactly the same plan. Will they work 

together, or bicker over the bronze 

Rise of the Legend 

(Hong Kong/China) Eddie Peng 

(“Unbeatable”) plays the legendary martial arts 

master and revolutionary, Wong Fei-hung. The 

story is set in the late Qing dynasty, where a 

corrupt Imperial Court thrives amongst opium 

dens and brothels abound, and gang conflicts 

begin to erupt. Wong Fei-hung flies in to bust 

the gangs from the inside: Anti-corruption! 

Yeah! Sammo Hung also makes an appearance 

as the crime boss who mentors him, alongside 

notable cameos by Angelababy and Tony 

Leung Ka-fai. You won’t be disappointed by the 

plentiful ab-tastic scenes and intense action, 

but just allow Peng & co. to sit pretty and don’t 

expect any deeply felt acting here. PPP 

Saint Laurent 

(France) Two YSL biopics in one year! 

Following January’s release of “Yves Saint 

Laurent,” this is hardly a do-over: “Saint 

Laurent” by Bertrand Bonello stars the 

dashing Gaspard Ulliel as the titular fashion 

legend. It’s a darker glimpse into his midcareer 

grind—with plenty of sex, drugs and 

alcohol to keep viewers titillated, and equal 

measures of fashion history to keep sartorial 

experts intrigued. But a fair warning: it’s very, 

very slow. PPP 

The Snow White Murder Case 

(Japan) Yoshihiro Nakamura (who made 

tearjerking puppy flick “Quill”) takes on this 

murder mystery. A beautiful OL working at 

a cosmetics company is found burned and 

stabbed to death: it’s up to TV presenter Yuji 

Akahoshi (Gou Ayano) to get to the bottom 

of it. If the OL really was the fairest of all, it’s 

probably just because of makeup. 

Tokyo Tribe 

(Japan) Based on the legendary manga by 

Santa Inoue, “Tokyo Tribe” is a film by Sion 

Sono (“Suicide Club,” and TIFF Midnight 

Madness People’s Choice Awardee “Why 

Don’t You Play in Hell”) about simmering 

yakuza conflicts. It’s a blood-drenched musical 

epic complete with hip-hop sung by a cast of 

real rappers, plus dancers, tattoo artists and 

stunt performers. Would’ve been excellent if 

only it wasn’t wrapped up with a pathetic and 

unfunny deus ex machina. PPP 

The World of Kanako 

(Japan) This mystery thriller centers around 

washed-up former detective Fujishima, who 

goes searching for his missing daughter 

Kanako. But perhaps Kanako isn’t everything 

she seems. Fujishima soon falls into a rabbit 

hole of all the most twisted schemes you can 

imagine. Not for the faint of heart (or logical of 

mind). PPP 

48 HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, december 5, 2014

Special screenings 

The Art of Commercials 

The Hong Kong Arts Centre celebrates the 24th anniversary of its “Art of Commercials” 

showcase with this selection of the most entertaining and innovative TV commercials from 

across the globe. Media geeks can also sit in on a talk with local TV, music video and film 

director Susie Au on December 6 (2:30-4pm; register for free spot at 

www.hkaconlineregistration.com). Nov 29-Dec 14. Agnès B. Cinema, Arts Centre, 

2 Harbour Rd., Wan Chai, 2582-0200. $65 from www.urbtix.hk. 

RAISE YOUR FIRST GLASS OF 

CHAMPAGNE IN 2015 WITH US 

Dinner & countdown package available 

Film Festivals 

UG/F, 9 Lan Kwai Fong, 

Central, Hong Kong 

Sergio Leone: 

Spaghetti Western and Beyond 

Worship the King of Spaghetti Westerns, 

Sergio Leone (plus the super-handsome 

young Clint Eastwood) all winter at the 

Arts Centre. Catch favorites of the genre, 

including all three films of the “Dollars 

Trilogy,“ as well as “Once Upon a Time 

in the West,” and “Once Upon a Time in 

the Revolution.” Through Dec 28. Agnès B. 

Cinema, Hong Kong Arts Centre, 2 Harbour 

Rd., Wan Chai. $65. 

French Cinepanorama 

The 43rd French Cinepanorama offers 

a staggering 61 films for your viewing 

pleasure, such as “Clouds of Sils Maria” 

(Dec 6), a drama about age, acting and reality 

starring Juliette Binoche, Kristen Stewart and 

Chloë Grace Moretz. Through Dec 11. 

www.afhongkong.org. 

CineFan: Leon the Professional 

Catch the director’s cut of Luc Besson’s 

undisputed classic, starring frequent 

collaborator Jean Reno as an aging hitman, 

and a young Natalie Portman as a 12-yearold 

seeking revenge after her family was 

murdered. Dec 14, 2pm. The Grand Cinema, 

2/F, Elements, 1 Austin Rd. West, West 

Kowloon, 2196-8170. $75. 

CineFan: Edward Scissorhands 

Hooray: it’s everyone’s favorite Christmas 

mascot (with scissors for hands). Catch this 

early masterpiece by the Johnny Depp and 

Tim Burton duo at The Grand Cinema (2/F, 

Elements, 1 Austin Rd. West, West Kowloon, 

2196-8170) on Dec 13, 2pm; and at the 

Agnès B. Cinema (Arts Centre, 2 Harbour Rd., 

Wan Chai, 2582-0200) on Dec 28, 2:30pm. 

$65-75; Agnès B. Cinema screening tickets 

from www.urbtix.hk. 

Hong Kong Jewish Film Festival 2014 

Catch the tail end of the Hong Kong Jewish 

Film Festival, which has been held annually 

in Hong Kong since 1999. Topics covered 

range from harrowing retellings of Nazi 

war stories to lighter fare such as “Kidon” 

(Dec 6) a spy heist film starring Bar Refaeli. 

Through Dec 7. Asia Society, 9 Justice Drive, 

Admiralty, 2103-9511. $100 from asiasociety. 

org/hong-kong. 

Fresh Wave International 

Short Film Festival 

Across its 15-day run, the Fresh Wave 

International Short Film Festival will be 

screening 65 movies. Some are works 

submitted by Hong Kong students, while 

others are overseas indie flicks. There is a 

special screening of six outstanding films, 

including “Tricycle Thief” (Dec 19), which 

was featured in the Toronto International 

Film Festival. Dec 5-19. Broadway 

Cinematheque, Prosperous Garden, 3 Public 

Square St., Yau Ma Tei. www.freshwave.hk. 

HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, deceMber 5, 2014 49

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50 HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DecemBER 5, 2014

HOME 

Free Will 

Astrology 

Rob Brezsny 

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): With both symbolic and practical actions, 

Sagittarius-born Pope Francis has tried to reframe the message of the Catholic 

Church. He’s having public showers installed for the homeless in Vatican City. 

He has made moves to dismantle the Church’s bigotry toward gays. He regularly 

criticizes growing economic inequality, and keeps reminding politicians that there 

can be no peace and justice unless they take care of poor and marginalized 

people. He even invited iconic punk poet Patti Smith to perform at the Vatican 

Christmas Concert. You now have extra power to exert this kind of initiative in your 

own sphere, Sagittarius. Be proactive as you push for constructive transformations 

that will benefit all. 

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CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): The limpet is an 

aquatic snail. When it’s scared, it escapes at a rate 

5:51 PM 

approaching two inches per hour. If you get flustered 

in the coming week, Capricorn, I suggest you flee 

at a speed no faster than the limpet’s. I’m making 

a little joke here. The truth is, if you do get into 

a situation that provokes anxiety, I don’t think you 

should leave the scene at all. Why There are two 

possibilities. First, you may be under the influence 

of mistaken ideas or habitual responses that are 

causing you to be nervous about something there’s 

no need to be nervous about. Or second, if you are 

indeed in an authentic bind, you really do need 

to deal with it, not run away. 

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AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): Science-fiction 

novelist Philip K. Dick has been one of my favorite 

authors since I discovered his work years ago. I love 

how he reconfigured my mind with his metaphysical 

riffs about politics and his prophetic questions about 

what’s real and what’s not. Recently I discovered 

he once lived in a house that’s a few blocks from 

where I now live. While he was there, he wrote two 

of his best books. I went to the place and found 

it was unoccupied. That night I slept in a sleeping 

bag on the back porch, hoping to soak up 

inspiration. It worked! Afterwards, I had amazing 

creative breakthroughs for days. I recommend 

a comparable ritual for you, Aquarius. Go in quest 

of greatness that you want to rub off on you. 

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): Do you enjoy telling 

people what to do Are you always scheming 

to increase your influence over everyone whose life 

you touch If you are a typical Pisces, the answer 

to those questions is no. The kind of power you are 

interested in is power over yourself. You mostly want 

to be the boss of you. Right now is a favorable time 

to intensify your efforts to succeed in this glorious 

cause. I suggest you make aggressive plans 

to increase your control over your own destiny. 

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): The National Science 

Foundation estimates that we each think at least 

12,000 thoughts per day. The vast majority of them, 

however, are reruns of impressions that have passed 

through our minds many times before. But I am 

pleased to report that in the coming weeks, you 

Aries folks are primed to be far less repetitive 

than normal. You have the potential to churn out 

a profusion of original ideas, fresh perceptions, 

novel fantasies, and pertinent questions. Take full 

advantage of this opportunity. Brainstorm like 

a genius. 

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): I enjoy getting spam 

emails with outrageous declarations that are at odds 

with common sense. “Eating salads makes you sick” 

is one of my favorites, along with “Water is worse 

for you than vodka” and “Smoking is healthier than 

exercising.” Why do I love reading these laughable 

claims Well, they remind me that every day I am 

barraged by nonsense and delusion from the 

news media, the Internet, politicians, celebrities, 

and a host of fanatics. “Smoking is healthier than 

exercising” is just a more extreme and obvious 

lie than many others that are better disguised. 

The moral of the story for you in the coming week: 

Be alert for exaggerations that clue you in to what’s 

going on discreetly below the surface. Watch 

carefully for glitches in the Matrix. 

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 20): Every one of us, 

including me, has blind spots about the arts of 

intimacy and collaboration. Every one of us suffers 

from unconscious habits that interfere with our 

ability to get and give the love we want. What are 

your bind spots and unconscious habits, Gemini. 

Ha! Trick question! They wouldn’t be blind spots and 

unconscious habits if you already knew about them. 

That’s the bad news. The good news is that in the 

next six weeks you can catch glimpses of these 

blocks, and make a good start toward reducing their 

power to distort your relationships. 

CANCER (Jun 21-Jul 22): Now and then, it is in fact 

possible to fix malfunctioning machines by giving 

them a few swift kicks or authoritative whacks. 

This strategy is called “percussive maintenance.” 

In the coming days, you might be inclined to use 

it a lot. That’s probably OK. I suspect it’ll work even 

better than it usually does. There will be problems, 

though, if you adopt a similar approach as you try 

to correct glitches that are more psychological, 

interpersonal, and spiritual in nature. For those, 

I recommend sensitivity and finesse. 

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): What feelings or subjects 

have you been wanting to talk about, but have 

not yet been able to Are there messages you 

are aching to convey to certain people, but can’t 

summon the courage to be as candid as you need 

to be Can you think of any secrets you’ve been 

keeping for reasons that used to be good but aren’t 

good any more The time has come to relieve 

at least some of that tension, Leo. I suggest you 

smash your excuses, break down barriers, and 

let the revelations flow. If you do, you will unleash 

unforeseen blessings. 

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): In 1662, Dutch painter 

Rembrandt finished “The Oath of Claudius Civilis.” 

It was 18 feet by 18 feet, the largest painting 

he ever made. For a short time, it hung on a wall 

in Amsterdam’s Town Hall. But local burgomasters 

soon decided it was offensive, and returned it to the 

artist to be reworked. Rembrandt ultimately chopped 

off three-fourths of the original. What’s left is now 

hanging in a Stockholm museum, and the rest has 

been lost. Art critic Svetlana Alpers wishes the 

entire painting still existed, but nevertheless raves 

about the remaining portion, calling it “a magnificent 

fragment.” I urge you to think like Alpers. It’s time 

to celebrate your own magnificent fragments. 

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 21): You now have a special 

talent for connecting things that have never been 

connected. You also have a magic touch at uniting 

things that should be united but can’t manage 

to do so under their own power. In fact, I’m inclined 

to believe that in the next three weeks you will 

be unusually lucky and adept at forging links, 

brokering truces, building bridges, and getting 

opposites to attract. I won’t be surprised if you’re 

able to compare apples and oranges in ways that 

make good sense and calm everyone down. 

SCORPIO (Oct 23-Nov 21): In 1989, Amy Tan 

birthed her first novel, “The Joy Luck Club.” Her next, 

“The Kitchen God’s Wife,” came out in 1991. 

Both were bestsellers. Within a few years, the 

student study guide publisher CliffsNotes did with 

them what it has done with many masterpieces 

of world literature: produced condensed summaries 

for use by students too lazy to read all of the 

originals. “In spite of my initial shock,” Tan said, 

“I admit that I am perversely honored to be in 

CliffsNotes.” It was a sign of success to get the same 

treatment as superstar authors like Shakespeare 

and James Joyce. The CliffsNotes approach is 

currently an operative metaphor in your life, Scorpio. 

Try to find it in your heart to be honored, even if 

it’s perversely so. For the most part, trimming and 

shortening and compressing will be beneficial. 

Homework: What gifts do you want for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Yule, and the 

winter solstice Write to Buddha Claus at uaregod@comcast.net. 

HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DecemBER 5, 2014 51

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I have been insecure about the way my 

vagina looks for as long as I can remember. 

When I was young, I would fantasize about 

the day I would grow pubic hair long enough 

to cover its unsightliness. That day never 

came, and I was left with an enormous 

insecurity about it. My labia minora is 

oversize quite a bit. I know that this is not 

uncommon, but its unattractiveness holds 

me back from receiving oral sex. I don’t 

even let my long-term boyfriend go down on 

me because I’m afraid he’ll think it’s gross 

and ugly. He assures me that he doesn’t 

care about the way it looks, but I can’t 

bring myself to let him do it. Any advice 

that might help dispel a lifetime of genital 

embarrassment 

– Minora Is Majora 

“I study vulvas and vaginas, and what people 

think of vulvas and vaginas, so of course I want 

MIM to love hers,” said Dr. Debby Herbenick, a 

sex research scientist at Indiana University and a 

sexual health educator at the Kinsey Institute. Dr. 

Herbenick coauthored Read My Lips: A Complete 

Guide to the Vagina and Vulva, and along with her 

coauthor Dr. Vanessa Schick, she researched what 

people like or dislike about vulvas and vaginas. 

What they learned should come as a comfort to 

you, MIM. 

“Just as many people in our study talked 

about loving long labia as talked about loving 

smaller labia,” said Dr. Herbenick. “So long labia 

are not universally regarded as ‘unsightly.’ In some 

cultures, women start pulling their labia from an 

early age to make their labia minora longer.” 

I would suggest that you get your hands on 

a copy of Read My Lips, MIM. Dr. Herbenick also 

recommends Femalia and I’ll Show You Mine, two 

other books that celebrate the broad diversity 

of vulvas. “The Vagina Monologues is another 

must-read,” said Dr. Herbenick, “especially the 

monologue about Bob. It’s about one woman who, 

through positive sexual experiences with a vulvaloving 

partner, comes to appreciate her vulva.” 

Which brings us to your partner, MIM. He’s 

into you and would like to go down on you. If 

you’re quoting him accurately—if he’s telling you 

that he doesn’t care how your vulva looks—then 

he’s doing “assurance” all wrong. He’s saying, 

“I am willing to go down on you despite the 

unattractiveness of your vulva,” when he needs to 

be saying, “Your vulva is beautiful, and I want to 

go down on you.” Show him this column, MIM, and 

after he apologizes for screwing up the assurance 

thing, let him go down on you already. 

“What would it cost MIM to allow her 

boyfriend to try to give her oral sex, even if just for 

30 seconds” asks Dr. Herbenick. “If she thinks she 

would enjoy the sensations and pleasures of oral 

sex, if not for her genital embarrassment, why not 

have a glass of wine or a beer, and kick back and 

see if she can enjoy it even briefly” Or why not 

pot, MIM Speaking from personal experience: Pot 

works wonders for some people with body issues. 

(Individual results may vary.) 

“MIM could do it in the dark if she wants. 

She should breathe deeply and play music she 

likes,” said Dr. Herbenick. “Make it less about sex 

and more about exploration. She might find that 

she can get over her insecurities. Really! And 

wouldn’t that be cool and possibly, quite literally, 

life-changing 

“There are also events MIM could attend, 

like Betty Dodson’s bodysex workshops in New 

York (expensive but empowering) that are all 

about helping women enjoy their vulvas and their 

sexuality. For a stay-at-home version, MIM could 

watch Dodson’s video ‘Viva la Vulva’ by herself or 

with her boyfriend.” 

So let’s say you’ve read the books and 

watched the videos and attended the seminars 

and smoked the pot and allowed the boyfriend— 

also high, perhaps blindfolded—to go down on 

you, and you feel no differently about your vulva. 

What then 

Find the Savage Lovecast (my weekly podcast) every Tuesday 

at thestranger.com/savage.mail@savagelove.net 

“If nothing helps MIM see her long labia for 

the national treasure they are, then yes, there’s 

surgery,” said Dr. Herbenick. “And while marketing 

for labiaplasty has mostly been a thing for the 

past 10 to 15 years, doctors have been doing 

these surgeries for ages. A few tips for MIM if she 

decides to go this route: Her insurance may not 

cover it and, yes, it can be painful (it’s surgery), 

and it will take several weeks to heal before she 

can have sex or even sit comfortably again. 

A challenge with vulva surgeries, of course, is a 

possible risk of loss of or change to sensation, 

and there is very little research on the long-term 

outcomes of these surgeries, in spite of the claims 

on many surgeons’ websites.” 

Dr. Herbenick suggests that if you opt for 

surgery, you look for a surgeon who has done 

many labiaplasties. “I’m not a fan of the way some 

doctors market their surgeries, but, yes, some 

women feel better about their genitals after getting 

the labia they want,” said Dr. Herbenick. “MIM 

should review before and after photos first so 

she can see what kind of labia she’s likely to have 

afterward. Many surgeons have a certain ‘style’ 

that they tend to do over and over again.” 

But please, MIM, Dr. Herbenick and I both 

want you to give books and videos and seminars 

a chance first. “If MIM is open to receiving vulvaloving 

propaganda from me, I will gladly send her 

a care package of books, postcards, and other fun 

things in hopes that she might learn to love her 

labia,” said Dr. Herbenick. “But I’d also be among 

the first to send her a congratulatory card on her 

new labia if she decides surgery is the right option 

for her. After all, I’m a vulva supporter whether that 

person’s vulva is the one they were born with or 

the one they had made for themselves sometime 

later in life.” Follow Dr. Herbenick on Twitter @ 

DebbyHerbenick. 

I am a 24-year-old woman who loves 

everything butt—except butthole. Anal 

penetration and anilingus are hard limits 

for me, but the most sensitive erogenous 

zones on my body are my cheeks, crack, and 

coin slot. But I can’t figure out a clear way 

to communicate this. Terms like “ass play” 

generally mean assHOLE play. I can’t be the 

only person who feels this way. Help a girl 

get her ass worked (but not fucked), and 

give me a term! 

– Nuts For Butts 

Some sexual interests and/or limits are too 

complicated to be expressed with a simple term, 

NFB. So you’ll have to use your words: “I love 

having my butt played with—cheeks, crack, coin 

slot—but my butthole is off-limits. Get on my ass, 

not in it.” 

This girl just hit a bump with her boyfriend. I 

offered to do something he secretly wanted 

to try, and he said, “Urinate on me.” I get 

the fantasy—surrender, being marked, the 

naughtiness. However, I can’t imagine liking 

it and I do not want to build it into our 

repertoire. Set aside that I have no idea how 

to do it so it’s sexy, safe, and sanitary. Is it 

okay to negotiate “one-and-done” and put it 

on my “No” list afterward 

– Wet And Wild 

You can certainly negotiate a “one-and-done” 

agreement, WAW, but if you find the idea 

upsetting—if the thought doesn’t just leave you 

cold but actually revolts and/or traumatizes 

you—then you don’t have to go through with it. 

(You’re not trapped in some fetish version of The 

Merchant of Venice, WAW. You don’t need a Portia 

to rescue you from this verbal contract.) As for 

sexy, safe, and sanitary: You don’t have to find 

it sexy, he’s not going to drown, droppeth your 

gentle rain upon him in the tub. 

On the Lovecast, Damon L. Jacobs on the PrEP 

controversy: savagelovecast.com. 


SMARt JOBs 

Corporate Design Education Food & Beverage Health & Beauty 

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SMA 

We are looking for the following talented individuals to join our 

current team: 

1. Hair Salon Supervisor / Manager 

• Should have excellent communication and people skills 

• Able to lead a busy team of hairdressers, assistants, and admin staff 

• Be customer service driven and able to take control of any situation 

• Punctual, reliable and trustworthy 

• English language is essential 

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2. Full Time Receptionists / Salon Coordinator 

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• Must be responsible, punctual, reliable & be a strong team player 

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• Able to communicate in English 

• Excellent customer service skills 

• Motivated, flexible, punctual and reliable 

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We offer a professional working environment with excellent benefits. 

Confidentiality assured for all enquiries. 

If you are a professional individual, have a passion for hairdressing / skincare and can deliver 

first class service, please contact us now on 28694408 or email us at info@paulgerrard.com 

dragon-i brings to Hong Kong the ultimate experience in glitterati lifestyle, stylish dining and 

wellness in Asia by blending the beauty of Chinese and Japanese traditions. We are looking 

for enthusiastic, outgoing and friendly candidates to join our team. 

We are now seeking for experienced Guest Relations and Light Jockey. 

Guest Relations 

Responsibilities: 

Maintain good relationship with clients; Assist in coordinating the guest invitation for events; 

Ad hoc projects for customer relationship management. 

Requirements: 

Well versed in pop culture; Detail minded and good organizational skill; Excellent 

interpersonal and communication skills; Good command of spoken English. An additional 

language is preferred. 

Light Jockey 

Responsibilities: 

Handle the lighting system of the club; Responsible for the operation of the DJ booth. 

Requirements: 

Experience is preferred however comprehensive on-site training will be provided to the 

successful candidate by international DJ. Technical background would be an advantage. 

Interested parties please send your full resume with current and expected salary 

to Ms. Christine by email christine@dragon-i.com.hk 

Servers needed for a Lively Bistro 

in Sheung Wan – a space for casual 

food, music and art 

We are looking for enthusiastic and dedicated 

individuals to join our team. Do people, 

food, music, art and creating a great 

experience for people make you happy 

We need: Waiters / Waitresses / 

Bartenders 

We welcome you to our team if you are 

- Friendly, helpful and professional to 

customers 

- Passionate about delivering a great 

experience 

- Punctual and respectful for assigned 

working hours 

- Positive, flexible, problem solving 

attitude 

- A helpful team player 

For interested parties, please submit your 

full resume with current and expected 

salary, as well as one thing you are truly 

passionate about to uppercareers@gmail.com 

Our company was established 

since 1994. 

1) Part-Time Models (Age: 16 to 

45 years old) 

For Photo Shooting/Fitting Job/ 

Fashion Shows/TV Commercials/ 

Products Image Representatives/ 

Event Promotions 

- Requirements: Stylish/Cool/Smart/ 

Elegant/Sweet/Camera Face 

2) Baby & Kids Models (Age: over 

3 months to 15 years old) 

Baby & Kid Products Image 

Representatives/Press Conferences/ 

Photo shooting for Newspapers and 

Magazine/TV Commercials 

- Requirements: Cute/Smart/Active/ 

Camera Face/Twins 

3) Singer (Age: 18 or above) 

Love singing. Clear Pronunciation. 

For Hotel and Casino 

If you are interested, please contact 

Ms. Leung at 2740 9059 or email us 

for casting. 

Looking for 

Sharp 

F & B Staff 

Please contact 

Lamy Lam 

on 2534 9560 

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56 HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECemBER 5, 2014

Market SMART JOBS Place 

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23,000 exclusive members. 

365 days of 5-star service 

Remarkable hospitality careers 

As the largest and most prestigious membership club in Asia, our members are drawn 

from the upper echelons of the city’s business, government and social communities. We 

recognise the importance of valuing our employees in the same way that we value our 

customers, and that is why our team is always dedicated to providing award-winning 

services to our guests, whatever the occasion. The Hong Kong Jockey Club is full of 

remarkable career opportunities, so take a look and find out which suits you best. 

Food & Beverage Manager 

Sous Chef (South East Asia Cuisine) 

Membership Services Support Manager 

Senior Membership Services Officer 

Senior Waiter/ress (Coffee Shop) 

Waiter/ress (Coffee Shop / Chinese Restaurant / Banquet) 

Supervisor (Trackside Catering) 

Catering Support Services Supervisor 

Catering Support Services Assistant 

Junior Cook (Western) 

Catering Attendant (Overnight) 

Catering Attendant 

Sports & Leisure Attendant 

Temporary Membership Services Officer (Hotline) 

Work Location: Happy Valley / Sha Tin 

How to Apply 

Please fax/mail your resume, complete with expected salary and job reference to: 

Email: recruit7@hkjc.org.hk 

Fax: 2966-7002 

Mail: The Human Resources Department 

The Hong Kong Jockey Club 

1 Sports Road, Happy Valley 

Hong Kong 

Find out more about the remarkable opportunity today. Visit our website at 

www.hkjc.com now. 

We are an equal opportunity employer. 

Personal data collected will be used for recruitment purposes only. 

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HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, DECemBER 5, 2014 57

ackup 

First Person 

Piano virtuoso Yundi Li has been in the spotlight since he was 18, and the Chopin specialist is 

one of China’s most renowned classical musicians. Ahead of a concert at the Hong Kong Coliseum, 

he tells Andrea Lo about the unconventional choice of venue and his thoughts on female fans. 

I don’t think 

classical music is 

boring. I think law 

is boring. 

I suggest everyone study classical 

music from a young age. 

I was born in Chongqing. I come from a 

family in education—my grandparents both 

worked in the sector. 

On tour, there is really no time to relax. 

I do rehearsals, then perform. The only 

thing I can do is sleep more. 

I don’t think classical music is boring. 

That’s just what people think it is. I think 

law is boring. 

You need to study classical music first— 

and then you will understand it. 

To become a pianist, it is best to 

start learning from the ages of 4 or 5. 

I started playing the piano at 7 years old. 

It’s quite old to be starting, but I had 

been learning the accordion for a few 

years prior. I switched to the piano as 

a challenge. 

When I was 18, I won the [2000] 

International Chopin Competition. 

I decided that piano and music would 

be my life, and began my career in music 

after that. 

If you ask any musician, talent and 

practice are both important. Alongside 

talent, you need to love music. 

If you really love something, everything 

becomes very smooth. 

This concert is a very special one for me. 

A classical musician normally only plays in a 

concert hall, like the Cultural Centre. I chose 

to play at the Hong Kong Coliseum because 

I want more young people to be in touch 

with classical music. 

I want to let the next generation know and 

understand what classical music is. 

I think my lifestyle, my taste and everything 

are fashionable. That is how I can relate to 

young people. But I present music that is 

historic and legendary. That is how I find a 

connection with my fans, and how we find a 

middle ground in understanding each other. 

[Female fans] like me and pay attention to 

my life, and of course, I really appreciate them. 

It is because of [my fans] that my dreams 

come true. 

I think my career has progressed quite 

well. I’m doing the things that I want. 

Sometimes, you become disappointed 

and you are a little bit unhappy—but that’s 

normal. In life, you’re not always happy. 

What’s important is how you can keep 

going, and go in the direction that you want. 

Hong Kong’s food is among the best 

in the world. From noodles to dumplings 

to pork—everything is so colorful. 

I live in Beijing, but I hope to be able to 

be here part of the year to feel this fantastic 

city’s energy. 

The most important lesson I’ve learned 

is to do the best of your ability in everything 

you do. 

I love to perform, I love music and I 

love the piano. That’s why I can keep 

developing my talent and let it show. 

I have 14 concerts coming up. It’s 

a busy and tiring schedule. My mind is 

excited and energized, but my body is 

exhausted. I need a week to recharge 

my batteries. 

My goal now is to inspire young people, 

especially in China. 

China’s classical music scene is growing. 

You can see that 15 million people are learning 

the piano. In the future, there will be more and 

more musicians coming to the classical music 

stage. This is a good sign for our musical and 

cultural development. 

The most valuable thing in life is to be 

yourself, do the things that you really want— 

and not to worry about anything. 

Yundi Li performs Beethoven’s 

“Emperor” Piano Concerto No. 5 on 

Dec 13, 8:15pm. Hong Kong Coliseum, 

9 Cheong Wan Rd., Hung Hom. 


XKCD 

Randall Munroe 

58 HK MAGAZINE FRIDAY, deceMBER 5, 2014

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